Aussies face 'double standards' blast over Afghanistan World Cup clash
Australia star Steve Smith said the decision to let the team play Afghanistan in a crunch World Cup match was «above my pay-grade» as Cricket Australia faced accusations of «double-standards».
Earlier this year, CA scrapped a three-match one-day international series against Afghanistan on the grounds the Taliban, who regained power in 2021, had placed fresh limits on education and work opportunities for Afghan women and girls, including female cricketers.
In the run-up to Tuesday's high-stakes match in Mumbai, Afghanistan fast bowler Naveen-ul-Haq took to social media to suggest there was an element of hypocrisy in CA abandoning the one-day games but going ahead with a World Cup match where it had something to lose.
«Refusing to play the bilateral series, now it will be interesting to see cricket Australia stand in the World Cup #standards #human rights or 2 points,» Naveen wrote on Instagram.
Former Australia captain Smith, however, told a pre-match press conference at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium on Monday: «We obviously played against Afghanistan in the T20 World Cup at home recently and we're playing tomorrow (Tuesday) so it's not a question for me, it's far above my pay grade.»
Cricket Australia had earlier responded to Naveen's post, with a spokesperson telling News Corp Australia: «CA made the decision not to proceed with the three match ODI series against Afghanistan in March following the announcement by the Taliban of further restrictions on women's rights including education and employment opportunities and the access to parks and gymnasiums.
»There is a distinction between playing bilateral series against Afghanistan which falls under CA control as compared to playing in a World Cup tournament which is
