South Africa are scheduled to play Afghanistan in Karachi, Pakistan, during the 2025 Champions Trophy on 21 February.
Whether the Proteas will fulfill the fixture, though, remains in the balance.
Afghanistan’s Taliban government have effectively outlawed the participation of females in sport since returning to power in 2021.
This has ostensibly put the Afghanistan Cricket Board in contravention of the International Cricket Council’s rules, which require full member nations to have a women’s national team.
“Public calls have been escalating for the Proteas cricket team to boycott their ICC Champions Trophy match against the Afghanistan men’s cricket team next month,” read Thursday’s statement from South Africa’s minister of sport, arts and culture Gayton McKenzie.
“As the minister of sport, arts and culture, this is a position that I feel morally bound to support, despite the deep complications of Afghanistan’s recent and tragic history.
“To be clear, the ICC has accepted the principle of equality in sport, and that member nations should be developing both male and female players. This does not happen in the case of Afghanistan, suggesting that political interference in the administration of sport is being tolerated there. In the same breath, Sri Lanka was banned in 2023 for political interference.
“I am aware that the ICC, like most international sporting mother bodies, professes not to tolerate political interference in the administration of sport, despite its obvious inconsistency with Afghanistan.
“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.
“As a man who comes from a race that was not allowed equal access to sporting opportunities during Apartheid, it would be hypocritical and immoral to look the other way today when the same is being done towards women anywhere in the world.
“Cricket South Africa, the federations of other countries and the ICC will have to think carefully about the message the sport of cricket wishes to send the world, and especially the women in sports.
“I hope that the consciences of all those involved in cricket, including the supporters, players and administrators, will take a firm stand in solidarity with the women of Afghanistan.”
Afghanistan head coach Jonathan Trott is also the head coach of the Pretoria Capitals in the SA20, which will start in South Africa this week. Several Afghanistan players, including MI Cape Town captain Rashid Khan, will play in the 2025 SA20.
“Why then allow Trott to partake in our SA20. Stop the double standards and focus your energy elsewhere,” said former Western Province Cricket Association president Ashraf Burns in response to McKenzie’s statement.
South Africa and Afghanistan have met five times in ODI cricket. The Proteas have won three times and Afghanistan two.