Cricket Scotland Draws a Line: No Bilateral Games Against Afghanistan Men

Cricket Scotland has made a bold off-field move. The board has confirmed that its men’s team will not face Afghanistan outside ICC events, citing concerns over the treatment of women and girls under the Taliban. The decision adds fresh pressure to an already heated debate.

What Cricket Scotland Has Announced

In an official media release, Cricket Scotland said it will not proactively schedule bilateral series against Afghanistan men. It will also stay out of any tri-series that involves them.

The restriction goes further than match fixtures. The Scottish men’s side will not share a ground with Afghanistan for practice matches either.

The policy applies only to the men’s team. Scotland’s women’s national team is not covered by the decision.

ICC Fixtures Remain Untouched

There is one clear exception. If Scotland and Afghanistan are drawn together in an ICC event, Scotland will play as per the competition regulations.

The board was careful to separate those obligations from any political message. Its 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.”

Why Scotland Has Taken This Stand

The board says the move is meant to support the women of Afghanistan. It expressed concern about the future of women and girls under Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.

Scotland also set a condition for any change. There will be no consideration of bilateral or tri-series cricket unless there is a major improvement in women’s cricket in Afghanistan and in human rights more broadly.

A Growing List of Boards

Scotland is not the first board to take this route. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has also opposed bilateral matches against the Afghanistan men’s team.

England have met Afghanistan in ICC events but have avoided bilateral series in the recent past. Cricket Australia has gone a step further and suspended bilateral cricket relations with Afghanistan.

The Afghanistan Premier League Question

The next big question is the Afghanistan Premier League (APL). George Munsey was the only Scottish cricketer picked in last week’s APL draft, so his availability is now uncertain.

Cricket Scotland said it will consider issuing a No Objection Certificate (NOC), but only if the APL receives ICC sanction. Without that approval, Munsey’s participation looks difficult.

Contracts Still Matter

The board also pointed to its contractual duties. Its statement said it will comply with its obligations to players under their contracts.

“If an NOC is issued, participation by that player must not be interpreted as an endorsement by Cricket Scotland of the current Afghan regime or its policies,” the statement added.

That wording shows the board is trying to balance player rights with its public position.

What This Means for Cricket

The decision keeps the spotlight on how cricket handles political and human rights concerns. ICC events remain the one place where all nations meet, regardless of bilateral boycotts.

For Afghanistan, the pattern is clear. More boards are choosing to limit bilateral ties while still honouring global tournament commitments.

For Scotland, the immediate impact is limited, as bilateral clashes with Afghanistan were never frequent. The bigger test will be how the board handles the APL and Munsey’s NOC if the ICC approval question stays unresolved.

Is this the right way to send a message, or should cricket and politics stay separate? Expect the debate to continue as more boards weigh their own positions.