McKenzie is urging his country’s cricket association not to honor the Champions Trophy game against Afghanistan on February 21.
South Africa’s sports minister Gayton McKenzie has backed calls for Afghanistan to boycott the ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan, joining British politicians who have urged England not to play the South Asian country at next month’s tournament.
“Cricket South Africa, other countries’ associations and the ICC (International Cricket Council) need to think carefully about what message the sport of cricket wants to send to the world and in particular to women in sport,” he said in a statement on Thursday.
“It is not my job as sports minister to make the final decision on whether South Africa should honor cricket matches against Afghanistan. If it was my decision, it certainly wouldn’t happen.”
England and South Africa share the same group as Afghanistan in the one-day international competition (ODI) and are under pressure to boycott the games in response to the Taliban government’s crackdown on women’s rights since its return to power in August 2021.
South Africa is scheduled to open its Champions Trophy match against Afghanistan in Karachi on February 21, but McKenzie called on his country’s cricket association not to honor the game.
“As a man who comes from a race that was not given equal access to sporting opportunities during apartheid, it would be hypocritical and immoral to look the other way today when the same thing is being done to women around the world,” he added.
More than 160 British politicians have signed a cross-party letter to the England and Wales Cricket Board calling for a boycott of England’s match against Afghanistan in Lahore on February 26.
ECB boss Richard Gould responded by calling for a unified approach from all member states regarding Afghanistan’s participation in international cricket.
Australia is the other team that will face Afghanistan in Lahore on February 28.
Cricket Australia indefinitely postponed a men’s bilateral Twenty-20 series against Afghanistan last March on the grounds that “human rights for women and girls in the country are deteriorating under Taliban rule”, but they played it in the World Cup in India at the end of 2023 and at the T20 World Cup last June.
Cricket Australia chairman Mike Baird said last month he was “very proud of the position we have taken” after they were accused of hypocrisy.
“We have taken a position and stand proudly where we believe is right,” he said.
