South Africa’s Sports Minister, Gayton McKenzie, has backed calls to boycott Afghanistan in the Champions Trophy, urging Cricket South Africa to reconsider their fixture in Karachi on February 21.
Reasons for the Boycott
England and South Africa share a group with Afghanistan, and both face pressure to protest the Taliban government’s restrictions on women’s rights by refusing to play.
McKenzie stated that allowing the match would send a conflicting message, saying, “As someone who suffered racial inequality in sports during Apartheid, it would be hypocritical to ignore similar injustice against women.”
Global Pressure
Over 160 British politicians have demanded that England cancel their February 26 match against Afghanistan in Lahore.
Cricket Australia previously canceled a bilateral series with Afghanistan in March 2024 but played them in World Cup tournaments in 2023 and 2024.
Chairman Mike Baird defended Australia’s stance, saying, “We are proud of the positions we’ve taken where necessary.”
