Fresh calls for Afghanistan cricket ban amid 'revolting repression' of women

Marnus Labuschagne has "no issues" playing against Afghanistan in the Champions Trophy on Friday night (AEDT) despite Cricket Australia's ongoing boycott of bilateral series between the two sides.

Australia has refused to host Afghanistan in bilateral series since the Taliban regained control of the nation in 2021 and banned women from playing sport.

The rules of ICC-run tournaments – the Champions Trophy and both ODI and T20 World Cups – dictate sides must play all scheduled matches or risk sanctions.

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"It's an ICC tournament, and our game, as the schedule came out, we're playing Afghanistan," Labuschagne told reporters.

"Personally, for me, which I can speak of, I've got no issues about playing tomorrow.

"But obviously there has been some stances from us at Cricket Australia in the past. But we're just focusing on tomorrow where we are playing Afghanistan."

The ICC has resisted calls to take action, despite a women's program being a key criteria to host full-member status.

In a statement published by The Age, assistant minister for foreign affairs Tim Watts called on the ICC to enforce its own rules or risk the situation becoming the "new normal".

"Cricket Australia has made its own decision about Australia's participation in the ICC Champions Trophy," Watts said.

"It was the first body to take a stand and refuse to play bilateral matches against Afghanistan. It should be applauded for that.

"The ICC's own rules make it clear that Test-playing nations must support women's cricket. The ICC should enforce its own rules against the Afghanistan cricket authorities.

"We will not stand by and allow the ongoing situation in Afghanistan to become a 'new normal'.

"The Australian government has been a world leader in the global condemnation of Afghanistan's revolting repression of women."

England politicians also called for the men's team to boycott its match against Afghanistan at the Champions Trophy.

They didn't, and ended up being knocked out in an eight-run loss to Afghanistan on Thursday.

Having already lost the entire second match to South Africa to bad weather, Australia again faces the prospect of a heavily rain-effected match in Lahore on Friday. Having beaten England in their first match, a second washed out match would be enough to put the Aussies through to the semi finals.

Labuschagne said Australia would much rather progress with a win, despite Australia's lacklustre form against Afghanistan in their last two meetings.

A Glenn Maxwell double century famously saved Australia from a shock loss at the 2023 ODI World Cup, before they finally got the job done to knock the Aussies out of the T20 World Cup last year.

Fresh off defeating England in their last match, Afghanistan will progress at the Aussies' expense if they can pull off another upset.

"I think as players you always want to play," Labuschagne said.

"Obviously if the whole match rains out I think that means that we go through to the to the semi-finals - but obviously we'd love to be able to win the game tomorrow and finish top in the pool.

"I think that's something that we want to aim to do and make sure we've won all our matches leading up to the semi-finals. But those things are out of our control, so I will have to make sure we're ready to go tomorrow if it is a shortened fixture."

Play is scheduled to begin at 8pm (AEDT).