Afghanistan cricket’s chief selector Asadullah Khan voiced deep frustration over Australia’s continued refusal to play bilateral matches with his team. Calling it a damaging and politically driven stance, Asadullah said Cricket Australia’s decision to sever cricketing ties under humanitarian pretenses had harmed Afghan men’s cricket. In an interview with PTI, he lamented how politics had infiltrated the sport’s purest form. Asadullah said “Our women’s cricket team has not played any matches in recent years and this will take time to change. But Cricket Australia and other Boards linking cricket with politics, I don’t think that is a good sign for the gentleman’s game.” He reminded them that Afghanistan’s rise to ICC full-member status was achieved through merit, not sympathy. He added, “We did not get ICC full-member status as a charity; we earned it through our performance and credibility. Our spin attack is the best in the world and our winning percentage is impressive." Australia has repeatedly refused to play Afghanistan since March 2023, citing the Taliban’s restrictions on women’s sports. Though the two nations still meet in ICC tournaments, no bilateral series has been held. The cricket chief admitted that women’s cricket in Afghanistan remains dormant but insisted that isolation was not a solution. He further said, Read also: Pathirana’s Manager Sparks Speculation: What CSK and RR Are Planning Revealed “Isolation Isn’t the Answer,” Says Asadullah Asadullah further added that countries like Australia ignoring Afghanistan will be hampering the growth of the country's men's cricket. He said, "The way Australia and other countries are treating Afghanistan cricket, there are cultural factors involved and the nation has not yet accepted some changes. But refusing to play with us because of that will only hurt men’s cricket, too." He warned that boycotts undermine players’ morale and restrict exposure for young cricketers. Australia’s stance stems from the Taliban’s ban on women’s participation in sports, which led to the disbanding of Afghanistan’s women’s cricket team after 2021. While acknowledging the hardship, Asadullah argued that continued engagement would be a better catalyst for change than exclusion. He also thanked the BCCI for its continued support of Afghanistan cricket, acknowledging India’s role in hosting their home matches. Asadullah appreciated the consistent assistance from the Indian board and noted that despite global challenges, the BCCI has stood by Afghanistan when others distanced themselves. He further underlined that cricket should stay separate from political issues and that Afghanistan, as a full ICC member, deserves to be treated with fairness and respect.