"Dont want to be associated with countries who take opportunities off half their population" T Paine

[MenInG]

"Dont want to be associated with countries who take opportunities off half their population" T Paine

Australia captain Tim Paine says it is "hard to see" Afghanistan's men at events such as the Twenty20 World Cup if the Taliban bans the women's side.

On Thursday, Cricket Australia said it would cancel a November Test against Afghanistan if reports that women cannot play in the country are true.

The International Cricket Council said it was concerned by Taliban comments suggesting the women's side was banned.

"Does the team get kicked out of the World Cup?" Paine asked on SEN radio.

"I imagine it will be impossible if teams are pulling out of playing against them and governments are not letting them travel to our shores, then how a team like that can be allowed to play in an ICC-sanctioned event is going to be very, very hard to see."

Taliban cultural commission deputy head Ahmadullah Wasiq had previously told Australian broadcaster SBS News: "I don't think women will be allowed to play cricket."

Australia are scheduled to host their first-ever Test against Afghanistan from 26 November before the Ashes series with England, which begins on 8 December.

The men's team have already received support from the Taliban - but under ICC rules, all 12 full members must have a national women's team, with only full members able to play Test matches.

Paine said the Test, scheduled to take place in Hobart, "is not looking good".

"There's the cricket aspect to it from an ICC point of view that to be a test-playing nation, you have to have an international women's team," he said.

"Obviously with the Taliban at the moment banning women from playing any sport, that has implications at an ICC level.

"Secondly from a female, human rights point of view, excluding half of your population from trying to do something is not on.

"I don't think we want to be associated with countries that are taking things or opportunities off literally half of their population."

The ICC said in a statement on Wednesday: "The ICC has been monitoring the changing situation in Afghanistan and is concerned to note recent media reports that women will no longer be allowed to play cricket.

"This, and the impact it will have on the continued development of the game, will be discussed by the ICC board at its next meeting."

But Paine called for more from the global governing body before the Twenty20 World Cup, which starts on 17 October in the United Arab Emirates and Oman.

"At this stage, we have heard from Cricket Australia, we've heard from the Australian government, we've heard from the Australian Cricketers Association," he said.

"But as yet we've heard nothing from the ICC, which I think is fascinating given there is a T20 World Cup in a month's time and at the moment Afghanistan are in that."

The Taliban named a new government on Tuesday, three weeks after reclaiming power, but doubts remain over the regime's rules.

"So far, we don't have any news from the government," Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) chief executive Hamid Shinwari said in a telephone interview with SBC and Reuters.

Last week, BBC Sport reported how many of the women's team are in hiding in Kabul, saying that members of the Taliban have already come looking for them.

When the Taliban last ruled Afghanistan two decades ago, girls were not allowed to attend school and women were banned from work and education.

BBC

 

[MenInG]

In one breath people say dont mix politics with sports and then this.

The Afghan Men's team has nothing to do with the Taliban - let them play.

 

[Forward Defensive Push]

In one breath people say dont mix politics with sports and then this.

The Afghan Men's team has nothing to do with the Taliban - let them play.

I believe South African cricket team was banned for apartheid even they those poor guys had nothing to do with it. Imagine if Allan Donald had a full 15 year career!

 

[SangasCoverDrive]

In one breath people say dont mix politics with sports and then this.

The Afghan Men's team has nothing to do with the Taliban - let them play.

Would Pakistan play against Israeli cricket team?

 

[Saj]

I don't support the Taliban but I guess some could mention the treatment of Aborigines in Australia.

 

[MenInG]

Would Pakistan play against Israeli cricket team?

We never played against Israel

We have played against Afghanistan and we know these cricketers.

Lots of things happen in countries such as Abu Ghuraib etc - business does not stop.

If Australia govt decides not to let its cricketers play - that is one thing. Tim Paine should not be making statements.

 

[shamaan]

Would Pakistan play against Israeli cricket team?

Would India play Pakistan in a bilateral series ?

 

[SangasCoverDrive]

Would India play Pakistan in a bilateral series ?

They won't. So like it or not, politics is part of cricket and sport unfortunately. It depends on how people use it.

 

[SangasCoverDrive]

We never played against Israel

We have played against Afghanistan and we know these cricketers.

Lots of things happen in countries such as Abu Ghuraib etc - business does not stop.

If Australia govt decides not to let its cricketers play - that is one thing. Tim Paine should not be making statements.

Imagine in the future, Israel becomes a top cricket team, would Pakistan play against them? You are right cricket has nothing to do with the team that's why the better option is to have Russian type committee for Afghanistan so they are not associated with Taliban.

 

[HappyWarsFan]

Would Pakistan play against Israeli cricket team?

Yes, they should.

 

[Savak]

Hope the PCB reaches out to Afghan Cricketers to take part in Pakistan's domestic tournaments, PSL and to have a pathway defined for them to play for Pakistan.

 

[street cricketer]

In all honesty, it would be extremely awkward for western countries to engage in sports activities with Afghanistan teams under the Taliban regime. You couldn't have a more contrasting clash of values and philosophies.

I suppose the western nations would probably look the other way if Afghanistan had economic clout like China or had petrol to offer like the Saudis, but the Afghans have none of these but only a rudimentary economy. So I highly doubt any sports activity happening in the near future between western nations and Afghanistan. It's back to the days of South Africa under apartheid.

 

[Rana]

Australians genuinely care about humanitarian issues all of a sudden hahahahahahahaha

 

[SangasCoverDrive]

Hope the PCB reaches out to Afghan Cricketers to take part in Pakistan's domestic tournaments, PSL and to have a pathway defined for them to play for Pakistan.

Other than Taliban supporting cricketers, I don't think any other players would be interested in playing for Pakistan because it would deprive them of playing in IPL, If they have a choice, they would prefer Aus, Eng, NZ, Ind over Pakistan.

 

[Yati]

I hope Australia takes the same stance when their Football team plays Saudi Arabia. Seems like the genuinely care about women sports.

 

[Ashmal]

Bunch of hypocrites.....nothing new here.

 

[Sir-fraz]

Lol comimg from the aussies who are enforcing authoritarian laws.. first he should speak about the unconsitutional mandates austrailia has enforced on the public.

 

[HappyWarsFan]

Yeah definitely don't let those Afghans anywhere near Pakistan.

 

[Savak]

Other than Taliban supporting cricketers, I don't think any other players would be interested in playing for Pakistan because it would deprive them of playing in IPL, If they have a choice, they would prefer Aus, Eng, NZ, Ind over Pakistan.

They have higher chances to play for Pakistan than those countries. If playing for Afghanistan is no longer an option then the only country they realistically can play for is Pakistan because all other countries will not accomodate them

 

[SangasCoverDrive]

They have higher chances to play for Pakistan than those countries. If playing for Afghanistan is no longer an option then the only country they realistically can play for is Pakistan because all other countries will not accomodate them

Maybe they don’t want to play international cricket anymore. They can make more money playing around the leagues

 

[Major]

If boycotting this series helps bring the plight of women upfront than sure why not.

Alot of women who wanted to make a career out of cricket will have their future destroyed now. Its good from CA players that they are standing up for whats right.

I am a big fan of Afghan cricket, but if Taliban make such dumb decisions, than embargoes and such boycots are needed.

 

[Major]

Would Pakistan play against Israeli cricket team?

Interesting question.

Back in 2002, Aisam ul haq teamed up with Amir Hadad in 2002 Wimbledon Open. People from both nations were happy about this, however our conservative had reservations against this.

Dan Kiesel, an Israeli, was Pakistan cricket teams physiotherapist. Pakistani poltiicians went crazy in the senate and tried to remove him but were unsuccessful.

In todays date if we do ever play Israel, we would be seeing protest by JUI and TLP and knowing the Imran Khan govt, we would be than boycotting

 

[BunnyRabbit]

"hard to see" Paine playing international cricket after Ashes.

 

[Saj]

ICC silent at the moment.

Surely they need to be getting involved.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Australia should forfeit the series. Also, all of NZ, OZ and ENG should forfeit any game they refuse to play in Pakisyan proper regardless of whatever Taliban excuse they are likely to come up with.

 

[street cricketer]

ICC silent at the moment.

Surely they need to be getting involved.

Not having a women's team is against the ICC rules for having test status. This is what the current ACB president said today:



I'm not sure what the ICC can do other than revoking Afghanistan's test status. If anything, ICC was looking the other way choosing to believe ACB's promises of developing the women's game when it looked like it never had any intentions of doing so.

 

[ahmedzee]

Here is a thing that I find it as very hypocritical by Australia. First they’re mixing politics with sports. Then they have the audacity of talking about rights and why not while their soldiers were killing innocents in Afghanistan as sports. Yes, that was all over the news few years ago. The Australian soldiers were part of the group that committed atrocities in abu gharaib and Bagram. I am not even touching the aboriginal topic. So did any country stop playing with Australia. It is best to look at what Aussies have done in the recent past. They should be the last ones to dictate the govt of some country what to do, and threaten them with cancellation of games.

 

[Junaids]

I don't support the Taliban but I guess some could mention the treatment of Aborigines in Australia.

Aboriginal people have the vote.

Aboriginal people have the same access to state- funded healthcare and education as all Australians, plus more.

Every meeting I or anyone else chairs in Australia begins with the chair saying “I acknowledge the people on whose land we meet today and I pay my respects to their elders past, present and emerging.”

Aboriginal people face horrific adversity due to past actions which leave them deprived of their culture and of wealth, health and skills.

But they are not actively discriminated against by the country in which they live. They are simply so damaged by history that even positive discrimination fails to make up for that damage.

 

[Junaids]

Here is a thing that I find it as very hypocritical by Australia. First they’re mixing politics with sports. Then they have the audacity of talking about rights and why not while their soldiers were killing innocents in Afghanistan as sports. Yes, that was all over the news few years ago. The Australian soldiers were part of the group that committed atrocities in abu gharaib and Bagram. I am not even touching the aboriginal topic. So did any country stop playing with Australia. It is best to look at what Aussies have done in the recent past. They should be the last ones to dictate the govt of some country what to do, and threaten them with cancellation of games.

I never understand the respect - let alone deference - that Pakistanis and Americans have for their own armed forces.

Armies are killing machines. If you give them power, or if you send them on active duty far away they inevitably get up to appalling behaviour. Even UN peacekeepers either get involved in murder or child prostitution.

The Australian SAS (special forces) was sent into Afghanistan with good intentions by the government of the day. They were let down by the fact that the people who choose to join special forces are murderous ****. They are human garbage.

They should be brought to justice, and indeed the trial of Ben Roberts-Smith right now in Australia marks a line in the sand. We are learning whether the right-wing pro-armed forces political reflexes which prevail in Pakistan and the USA will overwhelm decency and lawfulness like they do there.

But I repeat, the idea of sending troops to Afghanistan was well-intentioned.

I don’t think Australia is inherently racist or should be ostracised in cricket.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

I also don't want to be associated with a nation whose settler colonial ancestors committed genocide against its native population and wiped them off the face of the earth. And yet here were are.

Co-relating Afghan cricketers with the Taliban is a remarkably ignorant thing to do. And like I've said on the other thread, Australia has no right to act morally superior based on the genocide it committed in the past and the war crimes it committed in the present. Not to forget, a sizable portion of its population is rabidly racist and bigoted and exposes itself time and time again whether its at cricket matches or in their parliament.

 

[Abdullah Rabbani]

Woh don't go to far, is Pakistan take a stand on uyghur genocide no they even not neutral they are supporting China, we are living in a hypocrite society.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Aboriginal people have the vote.

Aboriginal people have the same access to state- funded healthcare and education as all Australians, plus more.

Every meeting I or anyone else chairs in Australia begins with the chair saying “I acknowledge the people on whose land we meet today and I pay my respects to their elders past, present and emerging.”

Aboriginal people face horrific adversity due to past actions which leave them deprived of their culture and of wealth, health and skills.

But they are not actively discriminated against by the country in which they live. They are simply so damaged by history that even positive discrimination fails to make up for that damage.

LOL what a joke. They killed like 90% of their population, spend the better part of the early 1900s sending aboriginal children to white foster families so that they could be "educated". And here you are trying to act like we should applaud the fact that whatever small number of aboriginals are remaining have the right to vote. Well whoop-de-do! What progress!

They survived a genocide and have the right to vote!

 

[Pakpak]

In all honesty, it would be extremely awkward for western countries to engage in sports activities with Afghanistan teams under the Taliban regime. You couldn't have a more contrasting clash of values and philosophies.

I suppose the western nations would probably look the other way if Afghanistan had economic clout like China or had petrol to offer like the Saudis, but the Afghans have none of these but only a rudimentary economy. So I highly doubt any sports activity happening in the near future between western nations and Afghanistan. It's back to the days of South Africa under apartheid.

Yup because until recently Saudis had the exact same rules and laws about women and society as the Taliban. It's just that they have oil

 

[Junaids]

LOL what a joke. They killed like 90% of their population, spend the better part of the early 1900s sending aboriginal children to white foster families so that they could be "educated". And here you are trying to act like we should applaud the fact that whatever small number of aboriginals are remaining have the right to vote. Well whoop-de-do! What progress!

They survived a genocide and have the right to vote!

The people who killed the Aborigines were white British colonialists, not the independent Australia of today.

Your argument is like blaming Pakistan for what Britain did to it when it was part of British India.

I live on a private, gated street in a very nice suburb in a large Australian city. On my street of 36 houses there are two Chinese lawyers, two Chinese doctors, four Indian doctors and a Maori millionaire businessman.

There are no Aborigines but it’s hardly a demographic mix in which white wealth is over-represented.

Again, consider Australian cricket. Jason Gillespie and Andrew Symonds and Mitchell Johnson and Usman Khawaja have never been marginalised within the team for their backgrounds.

I’d rather be an Aboriginal Australian than an Ahmadi in Pakistan.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

I never understand the respect - let alone deference - that Pakistanis and Americans have for their own armed forces.

Armies are killing machines. If you give them power, or if you send them on active duty far away they inevitably get up to appalling behaviour. Even UN peacekeepers either get involved in murder or child prostitution.

The Australian SAS (special forces) was sent into Afghanistan with good intentions by the government of the day. They were let down by the fact that the people who choose to join special forces are murderous ****. They are human garbage.

They should be brought to justice, and indeed the trial of Ben Roberts-Smith right now in Australia marks a line in the sand. We are learning whether the right-wing pro-armed forces political reflexes which prevail in Pakistan and the USA will overwhelm decency and lawfulness like they do there.

But I repeat, the idea of sending troops to Afghanistan was well-intentioned.

I don’t think Australia is inherently racist or should be ostracised in cricket.

This right here is what white savior complex is all about. And its a damn shame that after talking much sense you destroyed all the credibility you had accumulated in one line.

Sending troops into someone else's country is not acceptable. Besides being a violation of a state's sovereignty and being against the laws of the international system that the West itself created, it is imperialism. But ofcourse Australia does not have the guts to tell this to the biggest terrorist state on the planet: the US because the US is Australia's big brother. And whatever big brother says goes. If Big bro says China bad, then China bad. If Big bro says go to Vietnam or Afghanistan and commit war crimes, then that's what you do, no questions asked.

Nevermind the fact that the self-proclaimed global policeman has deposed democratically elected regimes all over the world, created terrorists wherever and whenever it has ben able to and generally been the cause of much of the chaos this world has seen in the Post World War II world.

 

[Technics 1210]

Australia is definitely associated with an other nation who took FULL opportunities in Afghanistan, UK, war, cough cough.

 

[Junaids]

This right here is what white savior complex is all about. And its a damn shame that after talking much sense you destroyed all the credibility you had accumulated in one line.

Sending troops into someone else's country is not acceptable. Besides being a violation of a state's sovereignty and being against the laws of the international system that the West itself created, it is imperialism. But ofcourse Australia does not have the guts to tell this to the biggest terrorist state on the planet: the US because the US is Australia's big brother. Nevermind the fact that the self-proclaimed global policeman has deposed democratically elected regimes all over the world, created terrorists wherever and whenever it has ben able to and generally been the cause of much of the chaos this world has seen in the Post World War II world.

One day my country could find itself under the yoke of evil men like the Taliban. We nearly were invaded by Japan in 1942.

I believe that sometimes you need the international community to use military force to liberate you from tyranny.

If you have ever seen a New Zealand rugby league National team you will know that theirs is not a “white” country. Yet they fought in Afghanistan too from 2001-19.

They were not “white saviours”.

 

[Local.Dada]

Would Pakistan play against Israeli cricket team?

Israel doesn’t have a cricket team but Israel does well in other sports. So you will never know until Pakistani athletes are in a situation to face them in such events. In fact don’t think Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh etc will ever face that dilemma but if it happens we can revisit that question.

It’s strange though the argument from Pakistan is sports and politics shouldn’t mix but there is already a what if scenario considering Israel.

Having said that sports and politics don’t mix is the biggest baloney that has been every told. There have been cricket diplomacies between India and Pakistan, Olympics have always had a political context and so has soccer etc.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

The people who killed the Aborigines were white British colonialists, not the independent Australia of today.

Your argument is like blaming Pakistan for what Britain did to it when it was part of British India.

I live on a private, gated street in a very nice suburb in a large Australian city. On my street of 36 houses there are two Chinese lawyers, two Chinese doctors, four Indian doctors and a Maori millionaire businessman.

There are no Aborigines but it’s hardly a demographic mix in which white wealth is over-represented.

Again, consider Australian cricket. Jason Gillespie and Andrew Symonds and Mitchell Johnson and Usman Khawaja have never been marginalised within the team for their backgrounds.

I’d rather be an Aboriginal Australian than an Ahmadi in Pakistan.

Ah yes, the classic 'I have a black friend' argument. 'Things are great in the little bubble I live in, therefore they must be the same way everywhere else'

The treatment of Ahmedis in Pakistan is appalling. But atleast there are actually some Ahmedis left. Which is more than I can say about aboriginals in Australia who saw physical and cultural genocide committed against them.

And you can play semantics all you want but go read about the Stolen Generations before you talk about how well integrated aboriginals are. As if murdering aboriginals from the very start wasn't bad enough, Australia's cultural genocide of the aboriginals lasted till 1970! Wherein aboriginal children were forcibly taken from their families and given to white foster families so they could have a white upbringing.

If this isn't cultural genocide than I don't know what is. And frankly its quite shameful for you to talk about diVeRsiTy when this was going on till 1970. But hey I guess we should all sit back and smile since former Australian PM Kevin Rudd offered an apology, right?

 

[wajid]

Israel doesn’t have a cricket team but Israel does well in other sports. So you will never know until Pakistani athletes are in a situation to face them in such events. In fact don’t think Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh etc will ever face that dilemma but if it happens we can revisit that question.

It’s strange though the argument from Pakistan is sports and politics shouldn’t mix but there is already a what if scenario considering Israel.

Having said that sports and politics don’t mix is the biggest baloney that has been every told. There have been cricket diplomacies between India and Pakistan, Olympics have always had a political context and so has soccer etc.

Pak tennis player formed a doubles team with an Israeli player and played in international tournaments as well. That has been done. Also if I remember correctly, some trainer or physio with Pak team was also from Israel and he spent time in Lahore. We can have problem with policies of Israeli state while simultaneously engaging with Israeli public.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

One day my country could find itself under the yoke of evil men like the Taliban. We nearly were invaded by Japan in 1942.

I believe that sometimes you need the international community to use military force to liberate you from tyranny.

If you have ever seen a New Zealand rugby league National team you will know that theirs is not a “white” country. Yet they fought in Afghanistan too from 2001-19.

They were not “white saviours”.

Seems like you have been reading an entirely alternative version of history. And here I thought Pakistani public schools were famous for feeding children propaganda.

Let me tell you what happened, mayte. Your big brother, the US funded and created those evil men. When the Soviets left, so did your big brother. But what your big brother did not realize was that once you create a Frankenstein's monster, you can't bend it to your will. And sooner or later it gets out of control.

Another lesson your country and your big brother failed to learn from Vietnam was that once you invade a country, you put those people in a battle for their survival because you are an occupying force in their country. And no matter how much you try to exterminate them (which you did especially in Vietnam) their resolve will only get stronger.

Lastly, stop pandering this B.S. about liberating people from tyranny. We all know its just code for Western imperialism at this point. World War II ended in 1945. Since then, all the West led by the US has done is be a source of tyranny for all others. Whether its the Vietnamese or the Afghans, or some other poor Latin American country.

 

[wajid]

I never understand the respect - let alone deference - that Pakistanis and Americans have for their own armed forces.

Armies are killing machines. If you give them power, or if you send them on active duty far away they inevitably get up to appalling behaviour. Even UN peacekeepers either get involved in murder or child prostitution.

The Australian SAS (special forces) was sent into Afghanistan with good intentions by the government of the day. They were let down by the fact that the people who choose to join special forces are murderous ****. They are human garbage.

They should be brought to justice, and indeed the trial of Ben Roberts-Smith right now in Australia marks a line in the sand. We are learning whether the right-wing pro-armed forces political reflexes which prevail in Pakistan and the USA will overwhelm decency and lawfulness like they do there.

But I repeat, the idea of sending troops to Afghanistan was well-intentioned.

I don’t think Australia is inherently racist or should be ostracised in cricket.

Saying any human being “human garbage” is really insulting. I don’t understand this condescending attitude, especially for those young boys who are first pumped by state and institutions into tough stereotypes and when they commit any crime their entire existence becomes garbage? Despicable!

Same with foul language towards Taliban. Criticize them for all their faults but considering hundreds of thousands human beings as waste is something that only imperial mentality can rationalize.

 

[iniqbal223]

Only thing Tim Paine did right..
Yes, everyone in Afghanistan are entitled to represent their country in sports
It is absolute bad, if they are not given opportunities to grow

 

[Third Man]

In all the discussion here, one thing hasn't been addressed, which is that if the CA thinks that by banning the Afghan national team, they'll force the Taliban to eventually allow women's cricket, they're deluded. That'll never happen. It's difficult enough to have a women's team in Afghanistan anyway. With the Taliban in charge, forget about it.

Now, I don't consider the Taliban as a legitimate government. In this day and age, any government that's formed by force isn't a legitimate one. My preferred scenario, for the time being, would be for the Afghanistan team to continue playing in exile under the old Afghan flag. But that does nothing for the future of cricket in Afghanistan and in any case, the way the previous regime capitulated doesn't really inspire loyalty and pride.

 

[SangasCoverDrive]

Israel doesn’t have a cricket team but Israel does well in other sports. So you will never know until Pakistani athletes are in a situation to face them in such events. In fact don’t think Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh etc will ever face that dilemma but if it happens we can revisit that question.

It’s strange though the argument from Pakistan is sports and politics shouldn’t mix but there is already a what if scenario considering Israel.

Having said that sports and politics don’t mix is the biggest baloney that has been every told. There have been cricket diplomacies between India and Pakistan, Olympics have always had a political context and so has soccer etc.

They do have a cricket team but it’s not a big team but that doesn’t change the fact that Pakistan would probably never play against them

 

[SangasCoverDrive]

Saying any human being “human garbage” is really insulting. I don’t understand this condescending attitude, especially for those young boys who are first pumped by state and institutions into tough stereotypes and when they commit any crime their entire existence becomes garbage? Despicable!

Same with foul language towards Taliban. Criticize them for all their faults but considering hundreds of thousands human beings as waste is something that only imperial mentality can rationalize.

He’s not wrong, army men around the world which is notorious for killing innocent people, raping women etc. Name one country which has a clean army devoid of any war crimes

 

[hitthestump]

Only thing Tim Paine did right..
Yes, everyone in Afghanistan are entitled to represent their country in sports
It is absolute bad, if they are not given opportunities to grow

Where's his voice when India exclude Pakistani and only Pakistani players from the IPL?

 

[hitthestump]

Would Pakistan play against Israeli cricket team?

Yes. Pakistan playing against India is pretty much the same thing.

 

[Snowflake]

Not his place to say anything. Dumb statement

 

[srh]

Australia captain Tim Paine says it is "hard to see" Afghanistan's men at events such as the Twenty20 World Cup if the Taliban bans the women's side.

On Thursday, Cricket Australia said it would cancel a November Test against Afghanistan if reports that women cannot play in the country are true.

The International Cricket Council said it was concerned by Taliban comments suggesting the women's side was banned.

"Does the team get kicked out of the World Cup?" Paine asked on SEN radio.

"I imagine it will be impossible if teams are pulling out of playing against them and governments are not letting them travel to our shores, then how a team like that can be allowed to play in an ICC-sanctioned event is going to be very, very hard to see."

Taliban cultural commission deputy head Ahmadullah Wasiq had previously told Australian broadcaster SBS News: "I don't think women will be allowed to play cricket."

Australia are scheduled to host their first-ever Test against Afghanistan from 26 November before the Ashes series with England, which begins on 8 December.

The men's team have already received support from the Taliban - but under ICC rules, all 12 full members must have a national women's team, with only full members able to play Test matches.

Paine said the Test, scheduled to take place in Hobart, "is not looking good".

"There's the cricket aspect to it from an ICC point of view that to be a test-playing nation, you have to have an international women's team," he said.

"Obviously with the Taliban at the moment banning women from playing any sport, that has implications at an ICC level.

"Secondly from a female, human rights point of view, excluding half of your population from trying to do something is not on.

"I don't think we want to be associated with countries that are taking things or opportunities off literally half of their population."

The ICC said in a statement on Wednesday: "The ICC has been monitoring the changing situation in Afghanistan and is concerned to note recent media reports that women will no longer be allowed to play cricket.

"This, and the impact it will have on the continued development of the game, will be discussed by the ICC board at its next meeting."

But Paine called for more from the global governing body before the Twenty20 World Cup, which starts on 17 October in the United Arab Emirates and Oman.

"At this stage, we have heard from Cricket Australia, we've heard from the Australian government, we've heard from the Australian Cricketers Association," he said.

"But as yet we've heard nothing from the ICC, which I think is fascinating given there is a T20 World Cup in a month's time and at the moment Afghanistan are in that."

The Taliban named a new government on Tuesday, three weeks after reclaiming power, but doubts remain over the regime's rules.

"So far, we don't have any news from the government," Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) chief executive Hamid Shinwari said in a telephone interview with SBC and Reuters.

Last week, BBC Sport reported how many of the women's team are in hiding in Kabul, saying that members of the Taliban have already come looking for them.

When the Taliban last ruled Afghanistan two decades ago, girls were not allowed to attend school and women were banned from work and education.

BBC

What is the population of Aboriginals in Australia compared to its total population?

 

[srh]

Seems like you have been reading an entirely alternative version of history. And here I thought Pakistani public schools were famous for feeding children propaganda.

Let me tell you what happened, mayte. Your big brother, the US funded and created those evil men. When the Soviets left, so did your big brother. But what your big brother did not realize was that once you create a Frankenstein's monster, you can't bend it to your will. And sooner or later it gets out of control.

Another lesson your country and your big brother failed to learn from Vietnam was that once you invade a country, you put those people in a battle for their survival because you are an occupying force in their country. And no matter how much you try to exterminate them (which you did especially in Vietnam) their resolve will only get stronger.

Lastly, stop pandering this B.S. about liberating people from tyranny. We all know its just code for Western imperialism at this point. World War II ended in 1945. Since then, all the West led by the US has done is be a source of tyranny for all others. Whether its the Vietnamese or the Afghans, or some other poor Latin American country.

you are on fire and putting other in place. Bravo. Your arguments are correct.

 

[Prince of Pakistan]

Australians do not want to play against Afghans or Pakistanis anyway. They are usually looking for excuses.

They will play against India even when its not safe or Kashmiris are being treated badly, but not the countries mentioned above.

Double policy always been a thing for the Aussies.

 

[Zaz]

Maybe if the talibs were modern, democratic, secular, didnt carry out public beheadings and gave women full equivalent rights like the saudis do theyd be recognised, yes?

 

[Afzal_K]

Would India play Pakistan in a bilateral series ?

Come to think if it, how much are fans missing - some top players will retire and would have never played/toured each others countries

Sad, we will grow older as well, unsure what gen will see normalcy

 

[Mamoon]

How does Paine feel about playing England, the country that has looted and plundered half of the world?

How does Paine feel about Pakistan and how it treats its minorities?

I despite the Taliban as much as the next next guy, as long as the next guy is not a Taliban apologist like most Pakistanis on this forum, bud at the end of the day, if the Taliban government does not allow its women to play cricket, it is their internal matter.

It is clearly not a good enough reason to boycott Afghanistan cricket team.

 

[Joseph Gomes]

I do agree with Paine but the truth is, Afghanistan is a poor country and this is why other countries can get away with virtue signalling. Saudi Arabia is another misogynist dystopian nightmare and is an ally of many western countries, because they have money. Money is above morals sadly.

With that being said, Taliban has no place in 21st century. And political affair trumps everything, not just sports. Afghanistan should be isolated and punished however possible. The cricket team being unable to place is a minor side effect.

 

[Robert]

In one breath people say dont mix politics with sports and then this.

The Afghan Men's team has nothing to do with the Taliban - let them play.

ICC rules are clear. No Women’s Cricket means no Men’s.

 

[Robert]

How does Paine feel about playing England, the country that has looted and plundered half of the world?

How does Paine feel about Pakistan and how it treats its minorities?

I despite the Taliban as much as the next next guy, as long as the next guy is not a Taliban apologist like most Pakistanis on this forum, bud at the end of the day, if the Taliban government does not allow its women to play cricket, it is their internal matter.

It is clearly not a good enough reason to boycott Afghanistan cricket team.

So nobody can take a moral stand because someone else did something bad a century ago.

It’s the Taliban’s choice to subjugate women. And it’s other countries’ choice to respond to that in the way they see fit.

 

[AMSS]

How does Paine feel about playing England, the country that has looted and plundered half of the world?

How does Paine feel about Pakistan and how it treats its minorities?

I despite the Taliban as much as the next next guy, as long as the next guy is not a Taliban apologist like most Pakistanis on this forum, bud at the end of the day, if the Taliban government does not allow its women to play cricket, it is their internal matter.

It is clearly not a good enough reason to boycott Afghanistan cricket team.

Every time ENG and AUS take a moral position, it's barf bucket time. Doubly so when we have their supporters here contort themselves to justify it all.

 

[Robert]

Seems like you have been reading an entirely alternative version of history. And here I thought Pakistani public schools were famous for feeding children propaganda.

Let me tell you what happened, mayte. Your big brother, the US funded and created those evil men. When the Soviets left, so did your big brother. But what your big brother did not realize was that once you create a Frankenstein's monster, you can't bend it to your will. And sooner or later it gets out of control.

Another lesson your country and your big brother failed to learn from Vietnam was that once you invade a country, you put those people in a battle for their survival because you are an occupying force in their country. And no matter how much you try to exterminate them (which you did especially in Vietnam) their resolve will only get stronger.

Lastly, stop pandering this B.S. about liberating people from tyranny. We all know its just code for Western imperialism at this point. World War II ended in 1945. Since then, all the West led by the US has done is be a source of tyranny for all others. Whether its the Vietnamese or the Afghans, or some other poor Latin American country.

Not all. West stopped a Genocide of Muslims in Kosovo.

 

[Rana]

How does Paine feel about playing England, the country that has looted and plundered half of the world?

How does Paine feel about Pakistan and how it treats its minorities?

I despite the Taliban as much as the next next guy, as long as the next guy is not a Taliban apologist like most Pakistanis on this forum, bud at the end of the day, if the Taliban government does not allow its women to play cricket, it is their internal matter.

It is clearly not a good enough reason to boycott Afghanistan cricket team.

What about India? An Army that rapes and tortures women in IOK whilst a nation that subjects lower classes to horrendous treatment?

 

[IMMY69]

ICC rules are clear. No Women’s Cricket means no Men’s.

I think this rule needs to change.

I'm the first one here to support Women's cricket. In fact my posts were deleted as they were pretty rude about the Taliban. However, banning the men's team is not going to change the Taliban's thinking.
They may enjoy cricket but I seriously doubt they'll allow women to play again just because the men's team is banned.

So then why punish the men's team? Also by including them international cricket you can try and influence the local sports body in a good way. Also you bring joy to tens of millions of innocent down trodden people of a country.

 

[Balthazar]

It's good that he questioned ICC's silence in the lead up to the T20 worldcup. Afghanistan's men should focus on their country instead of playing sports.

 

[Mamoon]

What about India? An Army that rapes and tortures women in IOK whilst a nation that subjects lower classes to horrendous treatment?

I am not concerned about India. I am only concerned about my country and the country that looted the natural resources of what is now my country.

 

[Mamoon]

So nobody can take a moral stand because someone else did something bad a century ago.

It’s the Taliban’s choice to subjugate women. And it’s other countries’ choice to respond to that in the way they see fit.

The past cannot be whitewashed because it is inconvenient.

England might pretend to be a champion of morality today, but it’s foundation we’re building on looting, plundering, genocides and exploitation.

If Taliban banning women’s cricket is a good enough moral reason for Australia to stop playing cricket with Afghanistan, then they should also not play cricket with England.

Ultimately, everyone’s morality is up for sale. There is always a catch.

Australia cannot afford to not play cricket with England. In fact, it would not even exist without England, so in this context, it is not about morality anymore.

Tim Paine and CA should at least have the guts to admit that they just need an excuse to avoid playing bilateral cricket with Afghanistan.

 

[street cricketer]

I think this rule needs to change.

I'm the first one here to support Women's cricket. In fact my posts were deleted as they were pretty rude about the Taliban. However, banning the men's team is not going to change the Taliban's thinking.
They may enjoy cricket but I seriously doubt they'll allow women to play again just because the men's team is banned.

So then why punish the men's team? Also by including them international cricket you can try and influence the local sports body in a good way. Also you bring joy to tens of millions of innocent down trodden people of a country.

It's not just the view of the Taliban but was apparently the general view of the ACB under Karzai and Ghani.

The ICC was just choosing to look the other way and overlook its own rules when it awarded the test status to Afghanistan without a women's team. The Taliban making its views clear has kinda forced the views of the ICC here and I think the ICC will be under pressure to ban the team as it's against the ICC rules.

I guess you could say it's Afghanistan and their rules but then again, white South Africans could have said the same when they were banned for two decades during the apartheid. I personally can't see any western nation playing Afghanistan in the near future as the government would get ripped by their public for doing so.

 

[silentkiller187]

One question which keeps getting brushed over is Afghanistan’s previous governments sentiments to a women’s team, because as far as I know they also did not want a women’s cricket team, and the talibans stance isn’t a million miles away from their original thinking, could this be why icc has been so quite?

 

[sindhiboy]

Looks like Australia are just looking for every excuse to not play any test cricket this year

 

[street cricketer]

One question which keeps getting brushed over is Afghanistan’s previous governments sentiments to a women’s team, because as far as I know they also did not want a women’s cricket team, and the talibans stance isn’t a million miles away from their original thinking, could this be why icc has been so quite?

This is the elephant in the room. ACB didn't take any concrete steps to develop their women's team like Ireland did after gaining test status, but the ICC was choosing to look away. But the Taliban declaring that women won't be allowed to partake in sports has actually heaped pressure on the ICC to act in my opinion. The next ICC meeting will be eventful I reckon.

 

[Dark Magician]

We never played against Israel

We have played against Afghanistan and we know these cricketers.

Lots of things happen in countries such as Abu Ghuraib etc - business does not stop.

If Australia govt decides not to let its cricketers play - that is one thing. Tim Paine should not be making statements.

Tim Paine should be making statements. Religious thugs should not be encouraged to do what they are doing. It's the silence from important members of society that allowed reprehensible regimes like the National party in South Africa to virtually enslave a people. The Taliban can't enjoy normal business when they deny the same to women. Some things are more important than cricket. Our enjoyment of the sport shouldn't be at the suffering of others and if sportsmen are speaking out against thuggery, I'm all up for it.

 

[Dark Magician]

It's not just the view of the Taliban but was apparently the general view of the ACB under Karzai and Ghani.

The ICC was just choosing to look the other way and overlook its own rules when it awarded the test status to Afghanistan without a women's team. The Taliban making its views clear has kinda forced the views of the ICC here and I think the ICC will be under pressure to ban the team as it's against the ICC rules.

I guess you could say it's Afghanistan and their rules but then again, white South Africans could have said the same when they were banned for two decades during the apartheid. I personally can't see any western nation playing Afghanistan in the near future as the government would get ripped by their public for doing so.

As it should be.

 

[Dark Magician]

I think this rule needs to change.

I'm the first one here to support Women's cricket. In fact my posts were deleted as they were pretty rude about the Taliban. However, banning the men's team is not going to change the Taliban's thinking.
They may enjoy cricket but I seriously doubt they'll allow women to play again just because the men's team is banned.

So then why punish the men's team? Also by including them international cricket you can try and influence the local sports body in a good way. Also you bring joy to tens of millions of innocent down trodden people of a country.

I don't agree with this at all. Normalizing relations with a regime that basically oppreses half it's people is not a good thing long-term.

 

[Titan24]

So nobody can take a moral stand because someone else did something bad a century ago.

It’s the Taliban’s choice to subjugate women. And it’s other countries’ choice to respond to that in the way they see fit.

Its their choice but, hypocrisy at so many levels is far from a moral virtue itself.

History as near as few years and as far as centuries is filled with inconsistencies and hypocrisies of quite a few countries.

Picking and choosing morality, international laws, rules etc. based upon suitability is not own in my opinion however, I know that’s how the world can be. Though can’t really clap for this stance when such stances have gone missing in 100s of other situations and only comes into play as per suitability.

Its choice of other countries but, lets not say this is some sort of a moral high ground or a stand when history tells you thats its anything but that as morals should apply everywhere in a consistent manner not when you can apply them as you are losing nothing due to taking that moral stance.

 

[street cricketer]

As it should be.

Don't get me wrong. I have no objections if the ICC bans Afghanistan for failing to fulfill its ICC test membership criteria.

Think posters bringing the past crimes of countries is a straw man. There's not a country that doesn't have skeletons in its closet. England with the obvious colonial legacy. Australia with their treatment of aborigines in the past. South Africa's treatment of coloured people. Pakistan have been accused of committing a genocide in the Bangladesh war as is Sri Lanka in their civil war. India have been accused of committing massive human rights violations in Kashmir, while China has been accused of incarcerating the Uyghur muslims in Xinjiang. Indonesia has sketchy behaviour with west papua and I'm not even going to the USA, Israel and other European nations.

So if we talk about past or even present activities, no country can engage with the other in sports activities because almost everyone has skeletons to hide. But there's a small difference. Eventhough all these countries are accused of committing crimes, they nevertheless deny doing that and don't publicly declare that their policy is oppressing those people. The Taliban however have publicly declared that they won't allow women to take part in sports activities. The only other similar political instance I can think of was when South Africa was under apartheid.

I don't buy the religious/cultural reasons given as an excuse. Imagine if India suddenly declared they won't be selecting lower caste or muslim players in their team or Pakistan declared they won't be selecting non muslim or Ahmadi players in their team and gave religious/cultural reasons for doing so, all countries would be well within their rights to boycott India or Pakistan in that instance. You can personally have any view on women's rights, some might think women shouldn't be allowed to play sports, some might think they shouldn't be allowed to work, some might even think they shouldn't be allowed higher education, but the universally accepted view is that men and women are both human beings and therefore should be treated equally, and religion or culture shouldn't be used as an excuse for discriminating women. If the Taliban are persistent in their views however, it would be very difficult for the Afghanistani team to get cricketing action as sad as it sounds. Doesn't mean the Afghan cricketers are at fault here, in the same way the Saffer cricketers weren't at fault when their team was banned during the apartheid.

 

[UzmanBeast]

I fail to understand why Tim Paine commented on the situation.

Such a respected, world-class captain and brilliant batsman who scores so often for his team. Surely his opinion means a lot.

 

[Shafi]

This guy needs to improve his performance as a player rather than act like politician. He failed miserably against India as a captain/keeper/batsman which cost them the series. Similar against Bangladesh.

 

[Shafi]

I fail to understand why Tim Paine commented on the situation.

Such a respected, world-class captain and brilliant batsman who scores so often for his team. Surely his opinion means a lot.

Really!!! I would rather take Sarfraz over him any day in all departments.

 

[Shafi]

Why didn't he make statements when US soldiers were killing innocent civilians, or Israel doing to Palestine? He should research on internet how many women get raped per hours in Western World compare to any Islamic country. This guy is just as a hypocrite and boot licker of powerful people.

 

[IMMY69]

It's not just the view of the Taliban but was apparently the general view of the ACB under Karzai and Ghani.

The ICC was just choosing to look the other way and overlook its own rules when it awarded the test status to Afghanistan without a women's team. The Taliban making its views clear has kinda forced the views of the ICC here and I think the ICC will be under pressure to ban the team as it's against the ICC rules.

I guess you could say it's Afghanistan and their rules but then again, white South Africans could have said the same when they were banned for two decades during the apartheid. I personally can't see any western nation playing Afghanistan in the near future as the government would get ripped by their public for doing so.

Yes pretty much agree with you.

Regarding South Africa, there were rebel tours and most of those players did manage to come back to international cricket.
But the bottom line is that it wasn't their exclusion from international cricket that brought down Apartheid and it won't be Afghanistan being kicked out of the ICC that is going to bring down the Taliban.

ICC's own non government interference should work both ways.
I.e that the ACB is no government hence they are dealing with the government of Afghan but a cricketing body. This is how it is in the Olympics and let's face it at least three other countries have direct government interference yet they're all included.

 

[UzmanBeast]

Really!!! I would rather take Sarfraz over him any day in all departments.

Paine is a waste of space on the Australian team. Their idiocy prevents them from getting rid of dead weight and forming a more capable team.