South Africa’s sports minister asks Proteas to boycott Champions Trophy match against Afghanistan

South African Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie has ordered the Proteas to win the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, citing the Taliban government’s ban on women’s sports and the disbanding of the women’s cricket team since returning to power in 2021. He called for a boycott of the war in Afghanistan. The 2025 Champions Trophy campaign will begin in Group B against Afghanistan on February 21 at the National Stadium in Karachi, Pakistan. Both teams are in Group B along with England and Australia.

“To be clear, the ICC accepts the principle of equality in sport and member states should develop both male and female athletes. This will not happen in the case of Afghanistan, and political At the same time, Sri Lanka imposed an entry ban in 2023 due to political interference.

“I am aware that the ICC, like most international sporting bodies, has publicly stated that it will not tolerate political interference in sports administration, despite the obvious contradiction with Afghanistan.As Minister of Sports , it’s not for me to make the final decision. South Africa should respect the cricket match against Afghanistan.

“If that was my decision, it would never happen.As someone who comes from a race that was denied equal access to sporting opportunities during apartheid, I have never seen anyone in the same situation today. It would be hypocritical and immoral to pretend that this is done against women everywhere in the world.

“Cricket South Africa, other national federations and the ICC will need to think carefully about the message the sport of cricket sends to the world, and particularly to women in sport. However, all of us, including supporters, players and administrators, take a firm stand in solidarity with the women of Afghanistan,” McKenzie said in a statement on her ‘X’ account on Thursday. .

Earlier, a letter from Labor MP Tonia Antoniazzi, signed by around 160 members of the British Parliament, urged the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to cancel the match against Afghanistan in Lahore on 26 February. They called for a boycott.

ECB chairman Richard Gould rejected calls for a boycott of the match, while British Prime Minister Keir Starmer also called on the ICC to abide by its own rules requiring boycotts for full members who do not play in international cricket men’s and women’s teams. . Suspended from school.

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