South African Sports Minister Calls for Proteas to Boycott Match Against Afghanistan Over Women’s Rights Issue
FILE PHOTO: Rugby Union - Rugby Championship - South Africa v Argentina - Mbombela Stadium, Mbombela, South Africa - September 28, 2024 South African minister of sports, arts and culture Gayton McKenzie celebrates after winning the Rugby Championship REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko/File Photo

South African Sports Minister Calls for Proteas to Boycott Match Against Afghanistan Over Women’s Rights Issue

South Africa’s Sports Minister, Gayton McKenzie, has joined public calls for the Proteas to boycott their upcoming Champions Trophy game against Afghanistan next month, criticizing the International Cricket Council (ICC) for failing to uphold its own rules regarding gender equality in sport. McKenzie expressed his strong disapproval of the Taliban government’s ban on women’s sports and its dissolution of Afghanistan’s national women’s cricket team.

In a statement on Thursday, McKenzie emphasized his “moral obligation” to support the boycott, stating, “It is not for me as the sports minister to make the final decision on whether South Africa should honour cricketing fixtures against Afghanistan. If it was my decision, then it certainly would not happen.” He continued, “As a man who comes from a race that was denied equal access to sporting opportunities during apartheid, it would be hypocritical and immoral to turn a blind eye today when the same injustice is being done to women anywhere in the world.”

The Proteas are set to face Afghanistan on February 21 in a group match in Karachi, Pakistan. McKenzie’s statement follows similar calls from over 160 U.K. politicians urging England to forfeit its match against Afghanistan on February 26, also citing concerns over the Taliban’s treatment of women.

McKenzie also criticized the ICC for what he described as hypocrisy, pointing to the suspension of Sri Lanka Cricket from November 2023 to January 2024 due to government interference, while Afghanistan has not faced similar sanctions for political meddling in sport.

“This does not happen in the case of Afghanistan, suggesting that political interference in the administration of sport is being tolerated there,” McKenzie said. He urged Cricket South Africa, other cricket federations, and the ICC to carefully consider the message they are sending to the world, particularly to women in sports.

“I hope the consciences of all those involved in cricket, including supporters, players, and administrators, will take a firm stand in solidarity with the women of Afghanistan,” McKenzie concluded.

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