Cricket South Africa says it would be unfair to punish Afghanistan cricketers and administrators for the actions of the country’s Taliban government.

The Taliban does not allow Afghan women to play sport, which has resulted in calls for the ICC to suspend the Afghanistan Cricket Board for their inability to field a women’s team.

The Proteas are currently playing a three-match ODI series against Afghanistan in the UAE.

Before the series, the South African Cricketers Association (SACA) sent out a press release highlighting women’s rights in Afghanistan.

On Thursday, CSA released its own statement on the issue, which re-affirmed its commitment “to narrowing the gender gap in sports” and explained its decision to give the Proteas’ ODI series the green light.

“CSA continues its continues its engagement with the Afghanistan Cricket Board, despite the challenging environment posed by the Taliban regime,” read the statement.

“Gender advocacy in cricket should never be advanced by meting out punishment on innocent cricket administrators and players for the misdemeanours of a regime that stands to lose nothing from that punishment.

“We are aligned with the South African Cricketers Association (SACA) in its view that ‘a player’s right to pursue sport cannot be limited because of his or her gender’.

“As such, CSA believes there is no justification for subjecting Afghan cricket players – both male and female – to secondary persecution for the actions of the Taliban.

“We will continue to engage with member countries within the formal structures of the International Cricket Council to address this matter.”

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Photo: ACB Media