Delhi, 10 January (H.S.): After several British politicians appealed to England not to play against Afghanistan in the ICC Champions Trophy next month, South African Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie has also supported the boycott, citing the Taliban government’s crackdown on women’s rights.
“Cricket South Africa, federations of other countries and the ICC have to think carefully about what message cricket wants to send to the sports world, and especially to women in sports. As Sports Minister, it is not for me to take the final decision whether South Africa should honor cricket matches against Afghanistan or not. If it was my decision, I would definitely stop playing,” he said in a statement on Thursday. He said, “For me as someone who comes from a race that was not allowed equal access to sporting opportunities during apartheid, it would be hypocritical and immoral to turn a blind eye to this today when women are being treated the same way anywhere in the world.”
Earlier, more than 160 British politicians had signed a cross-party letter to the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) demanding that England boycott their match against Afghanistan in Lahore on February 26.
Meanwhile, Cricket Australia (CA) chairman Mike Baird said he was “very proud of the stand we have taken” after being accused of hypocrisy.
“We have taken a stand, and we stand proudly where we think we should stand,” he said.
Hindusthan Samachar
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