McKenzie backs call for Proteas to boycott Afghanistan match
Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie has come out in support of calls for the Proteas to boycott their ICC Champions Trophy match against Afghanistan next month.
Female participation in sport has effectively been outlawed since the Taliban's return to power in 2021, a move that puts the Afghanistan Cricket Board in direct contravention of the International Cricket Council's rules.
In a statement on Thursday, the minister said, given South Africa’s apartheid history, it would be hypocritical to ignore discrimination against women
“It is not for me as the sports minister to make the final decision on whether South Africa should honour cricketing fixtures against Afghanistan. If it was my decision, then it certainly would not happen.
“As a man who comes from a race that was not allowed equal access to sporting opportunities during Apartheid, it would be hypocritical and immoral to look the other way today when the same is being done towards women anywhere in the world.
“Cricket South Africa, the federations of other countries and the ICC will have to think carefully about the message the sport of cricket wishes to send the world, especially the women in sports,” McKenzie added.
Afghanistan have become a greater force in white ball cricket in recent years, rising to eighth in the ODI world rankings.
They beat England at the 2023 ODI World Cup and reached the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup last year, eliminating Australia in the process.
