Mercury (Hobart)

Former coach says women will wear blame if Australia cancels Hobart Test

- ROBERT CRADDOCK

THE cancellati­on of the Hobart Test will have devastatin­g consequenc­es for the women it was intending to protect, according to an Australian who coached Afghanista­n.

Peter Anderson, the former Queensland keeper who coached Afghanista­n to the 2015 World Cup, is writing to Cricket Australia and players’ union urging them not to cancel November’s Hobart Test because of the Taliban’s intention to ban women’s cricket.

“I think it’s a really shortsight­ed and bad decision,’’ Anderson said of Australia’s threat to call off the clash after a Taliban spokesman said it was not essential for women to play cricket in Afghanista­n.

“I have spoken to the women over there [in Afghanista­n] and they are devastated by this decision. It will destroy them. The women will end up copping the blame.

“Sometimes, the people you think you are helping are the ones you do most damage to.

“Has anyone from the ICC even been to Afghanista­n? I know the Taliban. I’ve been there and I’ve spoken to them. You are talking about a 12th century culture.

“You cannot change things overnight. Do you think this ban will worry the Taliban? Honestly, they won’t give a crap.”

Rashid Khan, one of the game’s most charismati­c players, has resigned in protest at not being consulted at the selection of Afghanista­n’s latest white-ball teams.

“The thing that gets me is when I was there in 2014, the women’s cricket program was shut down and I wrote to Cricket Australia at the ICC and no one said, ‘boo’,’’ Anderson said. “We had $400,000 for that program and suddenly money went missing. No one seemed to care.’’

 ??  ?? Afghanista­n coach Peter Anderson with opening batsman Nawroz Mangal.
Afghanista­n coach Peter Anderson with opening batsman Nawroz Mangal.

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