Afghanistan ban likely, says Paine
TEST captain Tim Paine believes teams could refuse to play Afghanistan at the e T20 World Cup if the International Cricket Council doesn’t stop them from playing in the tournaament next month.
Paine said the Australian ralian players were “fully supportive” i ” of Cricket Australia’s stand against Afghanistan that is set to cost Tasmania a historic match between the nations.
On Thursday CA said it would have “no alternative” but to cancel the one-off Test in Hobart in November because of the Taliban’s hard-line stance against women playing not just cricket but any sport.
To be a full member of the ICC, all nations must have an active women’s team. The Taliban has declared it will ban all women’s sport.
The ICC has resolved to discuss the issue at its next board meeting due in October.
But pressure is building on them to make a call on Afghanistan’s status before the tournament, and Paine said if they were allowed to compete, teams could boycott playing them.
“I think so. I think it will be something discussed team by team,” Paine said.
“It will literally be something teams will discuss on the eve of that World Cup.”