Cricket Scotland announced on November 9, 2026 that it will not proactively schedule bilateral series or standalone fixtures against Afghanistan men outside ICC events. The policy takes immediate effect and also rules out warm-up matches, practice games and pre-tour camps, aligning Scotland with the positions already taken by England and Australia.
What the Policy Covers
The restriction applies to Afghanistan men's fixtures that Scotland would otherwise choose to arrange. It does not extend to ICC-sanctioned tournaments, where pairings are set by the global body.
The board confirmed the policy applies unless there is a material change in the circumstances surrounding Afghanistan women's cricket and wider human rights considerations.
Scope of Cricket Scotland's Policy| Fixture Type | Status |
|---|
| Bilateral series | Not scheduled |
| Standalone fixtures | Not scheduled |
| Warm-up matches | Not hosted |
| Practice games | Not hosted |
| Pre-tour training camps | Not hosted |
| ICC events | Not affected |
Player Communication and NOC Position
Scotland's contracted men's and women's players were informed on the same day the policy was confirmed. The board said it will comply with its contractual obligations to players.
If a No-Objection Certificate is issued, participation must not be interpreted as an endorsement of the current Afghan regime or its policies. George Munsey was the only Scotland contracted player signed for the Afghanistan Premier League T20.
How the Decision Developed
The policy followed a board review. It was triggered by an approach from the Afghanistan Cricket Board about using Scottish training facilities during the summer of 2026. Questions over Scottish player availability for the Afghanistan Premier League T20 draft also fed into the process.
Timeline of Key Triggers| Period | Development |
|---|
| Summer 2026 | ACB approach over Scottish training facilities |
| Summer 2026 | Questions over player availability for APL T20 draft |
| November 9, 2026 | Policy confirmed with immediate effect |
Comparison With England and Australia
Scotland's stance mirrors two of the larger boards. The England and Wales Cricket Board confirmed in May 2026 that it would not approve bilateral matches against Afghanistan outside ICC events. Cricket Australia had applied a comparable position before that.
Board Positions on Afghanistan Men's Bilaterals| Board | Position | Timing |
|---|
| Cricket Australia | Comparable restriction on bilaterals | Before May 2026 |
| ECB | No approval for bilaterals outside ICC events | May 2026 |
| Cricket Scotland | No proactive bilaterals, warm-ups or camps | November 9, 2026 |
Scotland's policy is broader in one respect, as it explicitly extends to warm-up matches, practice games and pre-tour camps.
Background: Women's Cricket and the ICC Framework
Afghanistan was granted Full Member status by the ICC in 2017. Since then, the national board has not met the ICC requirement to fund and develop a women's national team and development structures. Experts have described the situation facing women and girls in Afghanistan as gender apartheid under Taliban governance.
The ICC put a roadmap in place earlier in 2026 for an Afghanistan Refugee Women's XI, which could compete in ICC events by 2030. The side, primarily based in Australia, toured England during the summer of 2026 during the T20 World Cup period.
Recent Scotland and Afghanistan Meetings
The sides last met in a full international at the T20 World Cup in 2021. They also played a warm-up at the 2024 T20 World Cup. Most recently, Afghanistan won a warm-up by 61 runs on February 2, ahead of this year's T20 World Cup.
Recent Scotland vs Afghanistan Men Fixtures| Event | Year | Format | Result |
|---|
| T20 World Cup | 2021 | Full international | Last full international meeting |
| T20 World Cup warm-up | 2024 | Warm-up | Fixture played |
| T20 World Cup warm-up | 2026 (February 2) | Warm-up | Afghanistan won by 61 runs |
Review Mechanism and Outlook
Cricket Scotland said the policy will be kept under annual review. A material change in Afghanistan women's cricket, a shift in wider human rights conditions, or a relevant ICC decision could prompt reassessment.
The board did not set a fixed timeline or specify what threshold of progress would be required. Encounters at future T20 World Cups or other ICC events remain possible under the current framework, so competitive contact is reduced rather than eliminated.
Based on the recorded fixtures, warm-up matches were the most frequent form of recent contact, which makes that category the most directly affected by the new policy.