SYDNEY, Australia — A coalition of Australian feminist activists has called on the government to boycott all sporting events involving Afghanistan, citing the Taliban’s restrictions on women’s rights and the absence of a women’s cricket team in the country.
The group, known as Feminist Women of Australia for Women’s Rights, issued a statement on Thursday, declaring that “women are more important than cricket.” The statement urged Australia to cancel all matches against Afghanistan’s men’s teams.
“We call on Australia to cancel all its matches with Afghanistan’s men’s teams,” the group said in a post on X.
This is not the first time sports organizations have taken a stand on the issue. Earlier, Cricket Australia canceled three one-day matches against Afghanistan, which were to be held in the United Arab Emirates, citing the lack of progress in forming a women’s cricket team and the Taliban’s broader restrictions on women’s education and employment.
The movement to boycott Afghan sports teams has also gained traction in the United Kingdom. A group of women’s rights advocates, operating under the name Women’s Rights Network, has called on the British government to cancel its upcoming cricket match against Afghanistan.
According to a Fox News report, the network issued a statement urging the British government to not only cancel the match scheduled for Feb. 26 as part of the ICC Champions League but to sever all sporting ties with Afghanistan.
“In fact, we are asking our politicians and sporting bodies to go further,” the statement read. “We want Prime Minister Keir Starmer to mandate a complete boycott of all matches with Afghanistan in every sport. [The England cricket team] should cancel all matches against Afghanistan’s men’s cricket team in every tournament. Players and coaches should examine their consciences.”
The statement highlighted the stark disparity in freedoms enjoyed by women in the United Kingdom compared with those in Afghanistan, where women are severely restricted under Taliban rule.
“Women in your families can dress as they wish, pursue education, work, travel, open bank accounts, and speak freely. What is happening to women in Afghanistan is horrific. Every athlete with a conscience must do what is right. Boycott Afghanistan,” the group urged.
