'We have the right': Afghanistan captain hits back at Tim Paine
Afghanistan captain Asghar Afghan has called out Tim Paine for the Australian leader's comments regarding their future in major events.
Paine, who is set for neck surgery ahead of the Ashes, recently said Australia playing a Test against Afghanistan in November was "not looking good" following the Taliban unwilling to let women play cricket.
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He also questioned how the national team could play in future ICC sanctioned events, with the T20 World Cup approaching.
But the Afghanistan captain hit out at this suggestion and said his team have obtained the right to play alongside other nations.
"The Afghanistan Team has the right to play not only in this World Cup but in all ICC organised tournaments/events in accordance with the rules and regulations of ICC," he wrote on Twitter.
"For a less privileged cricketing nation as Afghanistan with zero infrastructure and support, reaching where we are right now and playing shoulder to shoulder with top 10 countries require sheer determination, passion and talent.
Mr. @tdpaine36!
The @ACBofficials Team has the right to play not only in this World Cup but in all @ICC organized tournaments/events in accordance with the rules and regulations of ICC, and I’m sure that our brave National Heroes will perform their best in it... #p1 pic.twitter.com/zjKY3j7uZm— Asghar Afghan (@MAsgharAfghan) September 11, 2021
"(You are) mistreating Afghan cricket and all the gains we have obtained with hardship in the past decade. Sports should be separated from politics."
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The T20 World Cup, to be played in the UAE and Oman, begins in October with Afghanistan among the eight nations assured of their place in the 12-team tournament.
"I imagine it will be impossible if teams are pulling out against playing against them and governments are not letting them travel to our shores," Paine said.
"Then how a team like that can be allowed to play in an ICC sanctioned event is going to be very, very hard to see."
Australia's cricket board said last week it would scrap the planned Test match against Afghanistan if it was able to substantiate reports that the country's Taliban rulers do not allow women to play cricket.
with AAP
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