PRETORIA, South Africa — South Africa’s sports minister has publicly voiced support for a boycott of the upcoming Champions Trophy match between the Proteas and Afghanistan. He has criticized the International Cricket Council (ICC) for failing to adhere to its own regulations.
Gayton McKenzie expressed his moral obligation to back a boycott, pointing to the restriction imposed by the Taliban government that prohibits women from participating in sports and has led to the disbandment of the national women’s cricket team.
“It is not within my role as the sports minister to determine the final outcome on whether South Africa will fulfill its cricket commitments against Afghanistan. However, personally, I wouldn’t support this match,” McKenzie stated in his comments.
“As someone who hails from a community that faced significant barriers to equal sporting opportunities during apartheid, it would be both hypocritical and unethical to ignore the current plight of women in sports globally,” he added.
The Proteas are set to face Afghanistan on February 21 in a group game in Karachi, Pakistan. Additionally, over 160 politicians from the U.K. have called for England to withdraw from their match against Afghanistan on February 26.
McKenzie accused the ICC of double standards for not enforcing its rules on member countries to promote both men’s and women’s cricket.
He pointed out that Sri Lanka Cricket faced suspension from the ICC from November 2023 to January 2024 due to government interference, questioning why similar action has not been taken against Afghanistan.
“This inconsistency suggests that the ICC is allowing political interference in sports administration in Afghanistan,” said McKenzie.
He urged Cricket South Africa, alongside other nations and the ICC, to reflect critically on the message cricket intends to convey to the world, particularly regarding women in sports.
“I hope everyone involved in cricket, from fans and players to administrators, will take a strong stand in solidarity with the women of Afghanistan,” he concluded.
