We Hope For...: Cricket Australia CEO Opens About Possibility Of Playing Bilateral Series Against Afghanistan

Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley congratulated the Afghanistan men’s cricket team for securing a famous win over Australia in the T20 World Cup 2024 and also opened up about the possibility of Aussies playing a bilateral series against the Afghanistan team in the near future. According to him, CA chose to postpone the last couple of series with Afghanistan on human rights grounds but is in close relationship with the Afghanistan Cricket Board, and he hopes that the two teams will compete against each other soon in the future.

In the Super 8 match of the T20 World Cup 2024 played in St. Vincent on June 23, Afghanistan managed to secure a 21-run win over the Australian team. After posting a total of 148 runs for the loss of six wickets in 20 overs, Afghanistan dismissed the Mitchell Marsh-led side for 127 runs in 19.1 overs to register their first-ever win over the most successful team in men’s cricket history.

During an online press conference organized by CA on Wednesday, Hockley said, “Firstly, I would like to congratulate Afghanistan on their win. They had a fantastic tournament with phenomenal players and played with great passion.”

“Regarding our bilateral matches, we have consulted extensively with stakeholders, including the Australian government, and chose to postpone our last couple of series with Afghanistan on human rights grounds. We maintain a close relationship and regular dialogue with the Afghanistan Cricket Board and want to see cricket thrive worldwide for both men and women. We hope for progress and will continue to discuss and maintain contact with the Afghanistan Cricket Board, aiming to resume bilateral cricket against Afghanistan in the future,” he added.

Australia has faced Afghanistan four times in ODIs and twice in T20Is, and except for going down against the Rashid Khan-led side in the T20 World Cup 2024 match played in St. Vincent last month, the Aussies have won all five matches.

In the recently concluded T20 World Cup 2024, the Aussies won all four Group B matches but failed to qualify for the semi-finals after finishing third behind India and Afghanistan in the Super 8 stage.