Greg Barclay blasts Australia for boycotting Afghanistan

Outing chairman of the Worldwide Cricket Council (ICC), Greg Barclay, has revealed the incident that brought on him probably the most grief throughout his tenure. He additionally criticized the Australia Nationwide Cricket Group for boycotting the bilateral collection in opposition to the Afghanistan Nationwide Cricket Group.

Greg Barclay’s tenure because the chairman of the Worldwide Cricket Council (ICC) got here to an finish following Jay Shah was appointed as the brand new head. The previous secretary of the Board of Management for Cricket (BCCI) took over the cost of the worldwide cricket physique from 1st December 2024.

If you wish to make a political assertion, don’t play them in a World Cup – Greg Barclay on Australia not enjoying with Afghanistan in bilateral collection

As he leaves the ICC, Greg Barclay spoke about how Australia not agreeing to play a bilateral collection in opposition to Australia was the difficult half for him. He criticized the Pat Cummins-led facet, saying that in the event that they did not wish to play Afghanistan, then they need to’ve stopped enjoying in World Cups. Talking to the Telegraph, he stated:

“If you wish to make a political assertion, don’t play them in a World Cup,” stated Barclay. “Certain, it may cost you a semi-final place, however rules are rules. It’s not about having half a precept.”

Greg Barclay additionally backed Afghanistan, saying that it wasn’t their board’s fault, claiming that they, too, are working below the decree. He additionally talked about that it would not have made any sense to kick the Asian staff out and sack their standing. He defined:

“It’s not the Afghanistan board’s fault. They used to have ladies’s cricket. I believe our strategy has been proper. It will be simple to kick Afghanistan out, however their board haven’t carried out something improper.

„They’re simply working below a decree and a collection of legal guidelines that claims that is what you must do. I don’t assume it will make a jot of distinction to the ruling celebration there to kick them out.”

Cricket Australia denied enjoying in opposition to the Afghanistan after Taliban authorities banned ladies from enjoying sports activities

This ranges lengthy again after Cricket Australia made a robust assertion, saying that they will not be enjoying the bilateral collection in opposition to the Afghanistan Nationwide Cricket Group. That is due to guidelines made by the Taliban authorities in Afghanistan.

They banned ladies from enjoying sports activities, and this did not go properly with Cricket Australia, who denied enjoying in opposition to the Afghanistan Nationwide Cricket Group, mentioning that girls’s rights are equally vital. The six-time World Champions canceled the collection twice in opposition to the Asian Group because of the determination of the Taliban authorities.

Not solely them but additionally, ECB CEO Richard Gould was on the identical web page. Though they don’t seem to be slated to play in opposition to Afghanistan, they talked about that they’d undertake the identical coverage of Cricket Australia till the ACB modified their stance on ladies enjoying cricket.

I believe cricket is such a power for good there [in Afghanistan] – Greg Barclay

Greg Barclay additional talked about that cricket is a superb supply of pleasure for folks in Afghanistan. He hopes for a change within the Taliban authorities’s stance and concluded by saying that it will not be nice to take pleasure from folks there.

“Possibly I’m just a little naive, however I believe cricket is such a power for good there [in Afghanistan], and it brings a variety of pleasure to lots of people. It’s higher to depart it there and hope that it may well foster a little bit of a change,” Barclay instructed The Telegraph.

“It’s an actual feel-good story – a sport that was performed within the refugee camps 25 years in the past and now they’ve performed in a World Cup semi-final. Do you actually wish to flip the faucet off?” he concluded.

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