Some cricket matches go beyond the spirit of sports, they’re shaped by politics, governments, and deep-rooted ideologies. Bilateral series are off the table for these countries, but ICC events force them to meet, bringing all their tensions with them. India vs Pakistan carries decades of geopolitical friction, while Afghanistan vs Australia comes loaded with the Taliban’s crackdown on women’s sports. (LIVE Blog | More Cricket News)
The 2025 ICC Champions Trophy is yet another stage where these rivalries reach a boiling point. India vs Pakistan 𒉰isn’t just a game, it’s a showdown fueled by decades of history, patriotism, and, let’s be real, an intense neighborly feud driven by endless comparisons.
Meanwhile, Afghanistan, under Taliban rule, faces Australia, a vocal critic of its crackdown on women's sports. With no bilateral series to diffuse the tension, these clashes become high-stakes battles where cricket is just one part of the fight.
𝄹Afghanistan and Australia face off in the Champions Trophy on Friday, February 28, bringing plenty of spice to the contest. But beyond the on-field action, the no bilateral series stance has only added more intensity.
🐎In 2024, Cricket Australia scrapped a T20I series against Afghanistan, citing the Taliban's escalating restrictions on women and girls.
Since the bilateral series ban, the two faced off in the 2024 T20 World Cup 🔯and are now set to meet again in the 2025 Champions Trophy. With no bilateral games between them, every ICC clash carries extra weight, and this one is no exception.
𒀰Afghanistan’s men’s cricket is thriving, making waves in 2024 and putting up a strong show in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 after a historic World Cup campaign. But while the men celebrate milestones, the women’s team remains in exile, their sport erased under Taliban rule.
♊Since reclaiming power in 2021, the Taliban have banned women from sports, education, and public life, forcing Afghanistan’s female cricketers to flee in search of safety and a chance to play the game they love.
♍Cut to now, Afghanistan’s women’s team has become a beacon of hope for Afghan women. Most now reside in Australia, continuing their fight for recognition. Their T20 against Cricket Without Borders at Junction Oval wasn’t just a game, it was a statement.
ꦬPlayed on the same day as the Women’s Ashes Test, it stood as a stark reminder that Afghanistan’s women cricketers still exist, even if their own country refuses to acknowledge them.
🔯Australia providing Afghanistan’s women cricketers with a place to play is a key reason behind their refusal to engage in bilateral series with Afghanistan. However, Afghanistan’s men’s cricketers have made it clear—they are not against women's rights or sports.
♔When the Taliban banned women from nursing courses, Rashid Khan took to social media, urging the government to reconsider. Similarly, Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi has voiced his support for Afghan women in cricket but acknowledged the limits of his influence.
Full story on Rashid Khan's view on women's rights HERE.
๊“Everyone likes to see everyone play,” Shahidi said ahead of Afghanistan’s Champions Trophy clash against England in Lahore. “But when it comes to politics and things beyond our control, we are just cricketers—we focus on what happens inside the ground.”
🅰Keeping off-the-field dynamics aside, Afghanistan and Australia have produced some gripping contests in recent years. In the 2023 World Cup, Afghanistan posted 291 for 5, setting up what looked like a historic win.
♓Australia, reeling at 91 for 7, seemed down and out until Glenn Maxwell pulled off an outrageous unbeaten 201, single-handedly snatching victory. Days later, Australia went on to lift their sixth ODI World Cup.
🍨Afghanistan didn’t have to wait long for payback. In the 2024 T20 World Cup, they defended 148 to stun Australia, finally getting the win that eluded them in Mumbai. Now, with a Champions Trophy semifinal spot on the line, they meet again in Lahore.
𒀰Shahidi made it clear that Afghanistan aren’t fixated on Maxwell alone. “We’re here to play Australia, not just one player. Our plans are for the whole team.”
🍨This matchup promises to be a spectacle and could pave the way for years of competitive cricket ahead. Or, as Rashid Khan put it after Afghanistan’s landmark victory over Australia in the 2024 T20 World Cup, “If we play in the World Cup, why don’t we play in bilateral series?”
♋A question that isn’t just for Afghanistan vs Australia but also for India vs Pakistan.
