Scotland restricts cricket engagement with Afghanistan over women's rights concerns
Cricket Scotland said in a statement on Monday, November 10, 2026, that it will restrict its cricketing engagement with Afghanistan, ruling out bilateral and tri-series fixtures outside ICC events because of the Taliban government's treatment of women and girls. The board also said it will refuse to host Afghanistan's pre-tour training camps or take part in practice matches outside ICC competitions.
The policy follows a formal review of Cricket Scotland's relationship with the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) after approaches earlier this year about access to facilities and discussions around the proposed Afghanistan Premier League (APL). Cricket Scotland said the review was guided by its commitment to growing women's and girls' cricket, concerns about the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan and the treatment of women under the Taliban government. The board said it had taken into account the positions of other major cricket governing bodies when reaching its decision.
“Cricket Scotland will not proactively schedule bilateral series or participate in tri-series involving Afghanistan Men unless there is a material change in the circumstances surrounding Afghanistan women's cricket and wider human rights considerations,” the statement read. “Cricket Scotland will continue to participate in any fixtures against Afghanistan Men at ICC events which are determined by ICC competition regulations. Participation in these fixtures should not be interpreted as an endorsement of the current Afghan regime or its policies,” it added.
Cricket Scotland said the review began after the ACB approached the board in July seeking access to training facilities ahead of Afghanistan's men's series against Ireland; that request was declined because of operational restrictions and the board's need to consider its position. A second approach in September, about the proposed APL, was also cited by Cricket Scotland as a factor informing its review.
On-field contacts between the two sides have been limited: Scotland have not met Afghanistan in a full international since the 2021 T20 World Cup, although the teams played in warm-up fixtures before the 2024 and 2026 editions of that tournament. The board noted that participation in ICC events determined by ICC competition regulations remains separate from its wider policy stance.
George Munsey was the only Scottish player selected in last week's APL draft, and Cricket Scotland said he could still take part in the competition. Cricket Scotland confirmed that it would issue Munsey a No-Objection Certificate if the league receives ICC sanction, while stressing that any player's participation would not amount to an endorsement of the Afghan regime or its policies.
Cricket Scotland said its position echoes the approaches taken by Cricket Australia and the England and Wales Cricket Board on bilateral cricket with Afghanistan. The statement also recalled that Afghanistan was granted Full Member status by the ICC in 2017 despite not meeting the requirement to fund a women's national team and development structures, and it noted that conditions for women and girls have deteriorated significantly since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, with experts describing the restrictions as gender apartheid.
The board said its new policy will be reviewed annually or following any significant ICC decision or material change in circumstances, and it reaffirmed that it will continue to participate in fixtures against Afghanistan Men that are mandated by ICC competition regulations.