KARACHI, Pakistan — Captain Hashmatullah Shahidi has responded to calls for a boycott of Afghanistan’s cricket matches ahead of their first game in the Champions Trophy. With pressure mounting from politicians in both England and South Africa, there have been suggestions for their respective cricket boards to forfeit matches against Afghanistan due to the Taliban’s restrictions on women’s sports and the ongoing suppression of women’s rights in the country.
South Africa’s Sports Minister, Gayton McKenzie, stated that if it were solely his decision, the match between South Africa and Afghanistan would not take place. Regardless, the fixture is set to proceed on Friday in Karachi, as is the upcoming match between Afghanistan and England scheduled for next Wednesday in Lahore.
Addressing this situation, Shahidi emphasized that their primary focus remains on the game itself. “As a sportsman, our job is to play cricket, and we don’t care what’s going on outside of the cricket,” he remarked on Thursday. He insisted that the team’s concentration lies solely within the boundaries of the cricket field, and external factors should not create tension for them.
Afghanistan’s final group game is slated against Australia on February 28 in Lahore, and recent performances have bolstered their confidence for possible upsets. The team secured victories against England and Pakistan during the 50-over World Cup in India in 2023, and they progressed to the semifinals of the 20-over World Cup in 2024 after defeating Australia and New Zealand. Furthermore, Afghanistan has clinched its last four one-day international series, including a successful series against South Africa in September of last year.
Shahidi expressed the team’s determination, stating, “We are definitely 100% looking to win this event because we’ve played a lot of quality cricket for the last two years.” He believes they have a great opportunity ahead, citing the experience of the players and the favorable playing conditions. He expressed optimism about starting the tournament on a positive note and maintaining that momentum throughout.
The captain also expressed hope for significant support from local fans at the recently renovated National Bank Stadium in Karachi. “A lot of Afghans live here, and in the last Asia Cup, we saw Afghan fans come out in support. I know that many Pashtuns also reside here in Pakistan, so hopefully, the stadium will be filled,” he added, looking forward to a thriving atmosphere during their matches.
