No Afghan clash for Australia

AUSTRALIA was set to play Afghanistan in a World Cup T20 warm-up game, but suddenly it won’t happen as cricket dithers over the fate of the Taliban-torn country.

In a draw seen by this newspaper, Afghanistan has been set down to play two warm-up matches against South Africa and the West Indies and Australia will play New Zealand and India with all games to be televised by Fox Cricket.

Australia was initially down to play Afghanistan and the West Indies, with the Afghanistan clash a potential powder keg given Australia is set to scrap its Test with that nation scheduled for Hobart in November in protest against the Taliban’s abandonment of women’s cricket.

But that schedule has been recast due to venue issues, and Australia and Afghanistan will be spared the anxiety of playing each other.

The decision to include Afghanistan in the trial matches is a clear pointer to the fact that it is likely the nation will be allowed to stay in the main draw, which brings a raft of sensitive issues, including a potential boycott of rival teams.

Australian captain Tim Paine recently questioned whether Afghanistan would be allowed to play in the World Cup given the global push against the Taliban control of the country.

“I imagine it will be impossible if teams are pulling out of playing against them and governments are not letting them travel to our shores, then how a team like that can be allowed to play in an ICC-sanctioned event is going to be very, very hard to see,” Paine said.

The ICC has suggested it will discuss Afghanistan’s participation but time is running short.

Meanwhile, the stresses of bubble fatigue which are threatening England’s tour of Australia this summer have surfaced again with English batsman Tom Banton withdrawing from his Big Bash contract with the Brisbane Heat.