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South Africa’s sports minister, Gayton McKenzie, has publicly called for the Proteas to boycott their upcoming Champions Trophy match against Afghanistan, criticizing the International Cricket Council (ICC) for failing to uphold its own regulations.
McKenzie expressed his moral obligation to support a boycott, citing the Taliban government’s ban on women’s sports and the disbanding of Afghanistan’s national women’s cricket team.
“It is not for me as sports minister to make the final decision on whether South Africa should honour cricketing fixtures against Afghanistan. If it were my decision, it certainly would not happen,” McKenzie said in a statement on Thursday.
“As a man who comes from a race that was denied equal access to sports during apartheid, it would be hypocritical and immoral to look the other way when the same is being done to women anywhere in the world.”
The Proteas are scheduled to play Afghanistan on February 21 in Karachi, Pakistan. Meanwhile, over 160 UK politicians have also called on England to forfeit its match against Afghanistan on February 26.
McKenzie accused the ICC of hypocrisy, pointing out its inconsistent enforcement of rules. He noted that Sri Lanka Cricket was suspended from November 2023 to January 2024 for government interference, yet no similar action has been taken against Afghanistan.
“This suggests that political interference in the administration of sport is being tolerated in Afghanistan,” McKenzie said.
He urged Cricket South Africa, other national federations, and the ICC to reflect on the message cricket sends to the world, especially to women in sports.
“I hope that the consciences of all those involved in cricket—supporters, players, and administrators—will take a firm stand in solidarity with the women of Afghanistan,” McKenzie concluded.
The ICC has not yet commented on the calls for action.
