Rashid Khan and Naveen-ul-Haq have both suggested they may abandon any future participation in Australia's T20 Big Bash League over the cancellation of an ODI and T20I series which was slated for March.
The limited overs fixtures, which were set to be played in the United Arab Emirates where Afghanistan have done a deal to host all international cricket over the next five years, were to follow Australia's four-Test tour of India for the Border-Gavaskar trophy in February and March.
The boycott of the tour from Cricket Australia comes following a decision from the Taliban - who now rule Afghanistan - to prevent women from playing cricket.
"CA is committed to supporting growing the game for women and men around the world, including in Afghanistan, and will continue to engage with the Afghanistan Cricket Board in anticipation of improved conditions for women and girls in the country," the CA statement advising the tour was off read.
"We thank the Australian Government for its support on this matter."
Rashid, who is one of the faces of the BBL at the Adelaide Strikers, wrote on his Twitter that politics should be kept out of cricket.
"I am really disappointed to hear that Australia have pulled out of the series to play us in March," Rashid said in a statement.
"I take great pride in representing my country, and we have made great progress on the world stage.
"This decision from CA sets us back in that journey.
"If playing vs Afghanistan is so uncomfortable for Australia, then I wouldn't want to make anyone uncomfortable with my presence in the BBL. Therefore, I will be strongly considering my future in that competition."
Cricket! The only hope for the country.
Keep politics out of it. @CricketAus @BBL @ACBofficials ♥️ 🇦🇫 ♥️ pic.twitter.com/ZPpvOBetPJ— Rashid Khan (@rashidkhan_19) January 12, 2023
Australia's boycott of the ODI series follows the decision to abandon a Test match slated with Afghanistan in Perth last year.
time to say won’t be participating in big bash after this until they stop these childish decisions that’s how they went about the one off test now ODI when a country is going through so much in place off being supportive you want to take the only reason of happiness from them #CA
— Naveen ul haq Murid (@imnaveenulhaq) January 12, 2023
The Afghanistan Cricket Board also wasted no time in confirming their thoughts on the decision, slamming it as "pathetic" and saying they would write to the ICC over the matter.
"Afghanistan Cricket Board is extremely disappointed and saddened by the pathetic statement of Cricket Australia to withdraw from Afghanistan's home three-match ODI series in March and will officially write to the International Cricket Council about the issue," the board wrote in a statement.
The ICC have confirmed Afghanistan will be a point of discussion at their next general meeting over the "concerning" developments.
