"If It Was My Decision"- South Africa Sports Minister Urges Players To Boycott CT 2025 Match Against Afghanistan

South Africa Sports Minister Gayton Mckenzie has made a big call ahead of this year's Champions Trophy 2025 tournament. Pakistan are the official hosts of the tournament with the Proteas playing against Afghanistan, Australia and England in the league stage.

Meanwhile, McKenzie has urged his players to boycott their match against Afghanistan. This call is made on the back of the Taliban government's ban on women's cricket in Afghanistan. They have also disabled the Afghanistan women's team after coming into power. The growing political unrest in Afghanistan is the reason why the South African sports minister has taken this big call.

South Africa face Afghanistan in their first league game in the tournament in Karachi on February 21. They face Australia (February 25) and England (March 1) in their next two league games. The sports minister clarified that while the final call was not for him to make, he would not have allowed South Africa to play Afghanistan if it was his call.

“It is not for me as the sports minister to make the final decision on whether South Africa should honor cricketing fixtures against Afghanistan. If it was my decision, then it certainly would not happen," he was quoted as saying by The Indian Express.

He further urged the other cricket boards to stand in solidarity with the ICC and support the growth of women's cricket in Afghanistan.

“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, and especially the women in sports. I hope that the consciences of all those involved in cricket, including the supporters, players and administrators, will take a firm stand in solidarity with the women of Afghanistan" he concluded saying.

ECB To Forefiet Match Against Afghanistan

As per reports in Indian Expres, even the ECB are considering to boycott their match against Afghanistan. There is pressure on the ECB to pull out from the Afghanistan match after 160 British politicians sent a letter to the ECB urging them to forfeit their match against Afghanistan. Now if England does not play their match against Afghanistan, they get the full points.

Speaking about the Champions Trophy in Pakistan, the stadiums are not yet ready across the three venues in Lahore, Karachi and Rawalpindi. Ths hosts are running the risk of losing the hosting rights with the tournament just 40 days away.