Afghanistan's captain Hashmatullah Shahidi says they are keeping out the outside noise ahead of their Champions Trophy match against the Proteas.
Image: Ishara S. Kodikara / AFP
Afghanistan's captain Hashmatullah Shahidi has made it clear that his team remains focused on the Champions Trophy and their opening match against the Proteas despite international calls for a boycott stemming from the Taliban's treatment of women in that country.
Speaking in Karachi ahead of their highly anticipated opening Group B match against South Africa on Friday, Shahidi was adamant that the off-the-field noise around possible boycotts has not been a distraction for his team from the task ahead.
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The calls for a boycott gained momentum last month when South Africa's Minster of Sports, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie publicly supported demands from British politicians for teams to not play against Afghanistan in Group B, which also featured England and Australia.
The England and Wales Cricket Board decided against boycotting the Champions Trophy group game against Afghanistan, despite deciding not to host Afghanistan for a bilateral series. Australia cancelled a Twenty20 international series and a Test match against Afghanistan in the last two years but confirmed their participation in the trophy match.
Afghanistan face England in Lahore on February 26 and Australia at the same venue two days later.
Cricket South Africa also said they would take the International Cricket Council's lead on the matter, and the Proteas will be playing the Afghanistan side on Friday.
"We only control things inside the ground, that's our job," Shahidi stated firmly during the press conference. "The other things cannot put us under pressure."
The Afghan team have had great success on the international stage over the last few years, including a remarkable performance during the 2023 One-Day World Cup in India, where they defeated former champions England, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Moreover, they reached the semi-finals in last year's T20 World Cup held in the USA and West Indies.
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They also beat the Proteas 2-1 in an ODI series in the United Arab Emirates last year, which will give them a lot of confidence heading into Friday's clash.
"The whole world knows that we are playing well, especially in the last three years. So we are focused on our play and also control what we can," Shahidi said.
"We have recently beaten South Africa in Sharjah, so we have that confidence with us, and we are not under any pressure.
"We are here to win the final and not just to participate. We are definitely looking to win this event."
Additional reporting by AFP
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