Cricket Scotland has confirmed that its men's team will not play Afghanistan outside ICC events, citing concerns over the treatment of women and girls under the Taliban government. The policy covers bilaterals, tri-series and practice matches. ICC-mandated fixtures and a possible NOC for George Munsey remain open questions.
What Cricket Scotland Has Announced
The Scottish board has restricted its men's team from scheduling or joining any non-ICC fixture involving the Afghanistan men's side. The decision does not apply to the Scotland women's team.
The board said it will not proactively arrange bilateral series or take part in tri-series that include Afghanistan Men. It also ruled out practice matches against them.
| Format of Fixture | Scotland Men's Position |
|---|
| ICC events (as per competition regulations) | Will play |
| Bilateral series | Will not schedule or play |
| Tri-series involving Afghanistan | Will not participate |
| Practice matches | Will not play |
| Scotland women's team | Not covered by the restriction |
ICC Fixtures Remain Unaffected
Cricket Scotland stated that it will continue to play Afghanistan Men at ICC events when the draw requires it. The board added that such participation should not be read as an endorsement of the current Afghan regime or its policies.
The board has also tied any future change to progress on women's cricket and human rights in Afghanistan. No timeline has been given.
How Scotland Compares With Other Boards
Scotland is not the first board to take this position. The ECB and Cricket Australia have already taken stances against bilateral cricket with the Afghanistan men's team.
| Board | Stance on Afghanistan Men | ICC Events |
|---|
| Cricket Scotland | No bilaterals, tri-series or practice matches | Will play as per ICC regulations |
| England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) | Opposed to bilateral matches | Has played Afghanistan in ICC events |
| Cricket Australia | Bilateral relations suspended | Not specified in the report |
The ECB Precedent
England has faced Afghanistan in ICC tournaments but has not played a bilateral series against them in the recent past. Scotland's policy follows the same split between ICC obligations and discretionary fixtures.
Cricket Australia's Position
Cricket Australia has suspended bilateral cricket relations with Afghanistan. With Scotland's announcement, three national boards have now publicly raised concerns over human rights in Afghanistan.
The Afghanistan Premier League Question
The next test is whether Scottish players can feature in the upcoming Afghanistan Premier League (APL). George Munsey was the only Scottish cricketer picked in last week's APL draft.
Cricket Scotland said it will consider issuing a No Objection Certificate (NOC), depending on whether the APL receives ICC sanction. It will also act within the obligations of its player contracts.
| Factor | Detail |
|---|
| Scottish players in APL draft | 1 (George Munsey) |
| NOC status | Under consideration |
| Key condition | ICC sanction for the APL |
| Board's caveat | Participation is not an endorsement of the Afghan regime |
ECB Concerns Over the APL
Reports have also linked ICC approval and ECB concerns to doubts over English players in the APL. That suggests the tournament's sanction status could affect several boards' NOC decisions.
Analytical Outlook
Scotland's policy changes scheduling more than competition. Because ICC fixtures are exempt, head-to-head meetings will depend on tournament draws rather than bilateral planning.
For Afghanistan, the number of boards declining bilateral cricket is now three among those named in this report. That limits opportunities outside ICC events, though the effect on playing schedules will only become clear over the coming cycle.
The Munsey NOC decision will show how strictly Scotland applies its stance to franchise cricket. The outcome will depend largely on the ICC's ruling on the APL.