Cricket Australia Thursday called off the ODI series against Afghanistan after Taliban imposed further restrictions on women and girls’ education and employment.

The decision to end the three-match series was made after consulting with several stakeholders including the Australian Government, said CA in the press release.

“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 read. “We thank the Australian Government for its support on this matter.”

The Taliban seized control of Afghanistan in September 2021 and immediately placed restrictions on female participation in sport.

They also remain the only ICC full member nation without a women’s team at the inaugural Women’s U19 T20 World Cup starting on Saturday.

Will Australia’s withdrawal impact ICC ODI Super League?

With Australia forfeiting from the series, the 30 points – 10 each for an ODI – will now be awarded to Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, the Aussies have already secured automatic qualification to the ODI World Cup in India in October by being one of the top eight ranked nations in the Super League. The series against Afghanistan was to be Australia’s last in the cycle, but they will not be their last ODIs before the World Cup.

They will play minimum eight ODI before the ICC Cricket World Cup in India later this year.