KABUL: Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) is reported to have sought Pakistan’s help after Cricket Australia (CA) canceled their three-match ODI series.
It may be recalled that Australia on January 12 had pulled out of an upcoming one-day series against Afghanistan in the United Arab Emirates citing Taliban moves to further restrict women’s rights.
The men’s team was due to face their Afghan counterparts in three games, which form part of the ICC Super League, in March following a tour to India.
But Cricket Australia said that following consultations with stakeholders, including the Australian government, it would no longer take place.
Also read: Australia pulls out of Afghan cricket series over Taliban crackdown on women
ACB are keen on playing a three-match ODI series with Pakistan in March in UAE, immediately after the conclusion of the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL).
Pakistan are already scheduled to play Afghanistan later in August as part of the ODI World Super League.
PCB is currently exploring over the aforementioned offer. In April, New Zealand will also return to Pakistan for a five-match ODI and T20I series. Hence, the series will have to take place in a short span of time in late March.
Afghanistan’s best-known international cricketer and leg-spinner Rashid Khan had criticised the cancellation and warned he would be “strongly considering” his future in Australia’s Big Bash League.
Australia defended their hotly contested decision to pull out of a cricket series. “Basic human rights is not politics,” Cricket Australia chief executive Nick Hockley said in a statement sent to AFP after Afghanistan’s cricket board lashed the cancellation as “pathetic.”
