London, Dec 06 (V7N) — Former ICC Chairman Greg Barclay has labeled Australia's dual stance on Afghanistan cricket as "hypocrisy," criticizing the decision to boycott bilateral series while continuing to compete against Afghanistan in global tournaments. Barclay shared his thoughts with The Telegraph after stepping down from his role as ICC Chairman on November 30.

Australia canceled all bilateral cricket series against Afghanistan’s men’s team, citing the Taliban's ban on women's cricket as the reason. Despite this, the Australian team played Afghanistan in the 2023 ODI World Cup and the 2024 T20 World Cup. Barclay questioned the logic behind such selective engagement.

“If you really want to take a political stand, then don’t play with them in the World Cup either,” he said. “A policy is a policy. There’s no such thing as half a policy.”

Barclay defended the Afghanistan Cricket Board, pointing out that the ban on women’s cricket was a government directive, not the ACB's choice. He argued that penalizing the board for decisions beyond its control was unfair.

“They had women's cricket, and then it was banned. Their board did nothing wrong; they simply followed state orders,” Barclay said.

Highlighting cricket’s transformative power in Afghanistan, Barclay urged stakeholders to tread cautiously. “Cricket is a big inspiration in Afghanistan. It has the potential to bring about change,” he said, citing Afghanistan’s remarkable journey from refugee camps to competing in World Cup semi-finals within 25 years.

“Do you really want to end that story?” he asked.

The Taliban regained power in Afghanistan in 2021 and banned women’s cricket and other sports, citing their conservative policies. While the decision faced global condemnation, the Taliban permitted men’s cricket to continue, enabling Afghanistan to remain competitive on the international stage.

Australia’s boycott of bilateral series reflects its protest against gender discrimination but has drawn criticism for inconsistency. Barclay’s comments add to the ongoing debate over the balance between sports diplomacy and political activism in international cricket.

As Afghanistan’s cricket continues to inspire despite political challenges, the global cricket community faces a dilemma: how to address human rights concerns without undermining a sport that serves as a beacon of hope for millions.

END/RH/AJ