Afghanistan and Australia do not play against each other in bilateral cricket (Photo by Alex ... [+] Davidson-ICC/ICC via Getty Images)ICC via Getty Images

A working group investigating Afghanistan since the Taliban's return to power effectively ended women's cricket in the war-torn country will remain intact, according to sources, after Cricket Australia defiantly held firm on its human rights stance.

CA last month called off a three-match T20 series against Afghanistan planned for August in the UAE due to the rights of women and girls in the Taliban-ruled country "getting worse".

Afghanistan do not play cricket at home due to security issues and it is the third time Australia has cancelled bilateral series against them.

Australia continues to be the only cricket country opposed to playing Afghanistan publicly and privately among the International Cricket Council board, according to sources.

Australia and Afghanistan only play against each other at major events (Photo by Mark Brake-ICC/ICC ... [+] via Getty Images)ICC via Getty Images

But it's been a divisive issue since the swift return of the hardline Islamists in 2021 effectively ended women's cricket in Afghanistan as a systematic chipping away of the rights of women and girls ensued.

They have been banned from playing all sports with members of Afghanistan's fledgling women's cricket team fleeing overseas - many to Australia - after the Taliban's takeover.

An ICC working group, led by veteran board director Imran Khwaja, was set up in late 2021 and tasked with investigating the situation in Afghanistan. Khwaja met on several occasions with Afghanistan Cricket Board administrators and Taliban officials.

With Australia making a stand - although they still contentiously play Afghanistan at major events like World Cups - there had been debate over whether Afghanistan's Full Membership should be revoked. Full Membership grants countries extra power and funds, with only 12 nations having the status in cricket's antiquated tiered membership.

As I reported last June, Afghanistan avoided sanctions and the working group was set to be disbanded much like the investigation into Sri Lanka Cricket after its suspension for "government interference" was lifted earlier this year.

But Australia's latest postponement has meant the working group will be kept intact although Afghanistan's Full Membership remains secure despite there being almost no chance of women's cricket restarting any time soon.

"The Afghanistan situation will continue to be monitored considering Australia are still making noise about it," an administrator privy to the issue told me. "But Australia are alone on this issue, it's not divisive (on the ICC board)."

Afghanistan are a popular cricket team (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)Getty Images

There has been reluctance from some administrators to sanction Afghanistan, which is considered something of a cricket fairy-tale and ascended to being the country's most popular sport after players in the 1990s returned home from Pakistan refugee camps.

Australia was part of granting Afghanistan coveted Full Membership in 2017 in a decision that was unanimously approved by the ICC board. But the Taliban's return has become a line in the sand for CA, who continue to oppose playing Afghanistan in a decision made in consultation with the Australian government.

"Over the past 12 months CA has continued to consult with the Australian government on the situation in Afghanistan," CA issued in a statement last month. "The government's advice is that conditions for women and girls in Afghanistan are getting worse."