Australia and Afghanistan don't play bilaterals against each other (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty ... [+] Images)Getty Images

Australia continue to be the only cricket country firmly opposed to playing Afghanistan in bilateral series due to the human rights of women and girls in the Taliban-ruled country "getting worse".

Cricket Australia recently called off a three-match T20 series against Afghanistan that was planned for August in the UAE
UAE
. Afghanistan do not host cricket at home due to security issues in the war-torn nation and it is the third time Australia has cancelled bilateral series against them.

Australia, however, do play Afghanistan in major tournaments, such as World Cups, leading to some critics to suggest hypocrisy from a governing body that has a track record of not playing small cricket nations.

But Australia defended its stance with women’s cricket unlikely to restart any time in Afghanistan after the return of the hardline Islamists in 2021 caused a systematic chipping away of the rights of women and girls across society.

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

The Afghanistan Cricket Board, as expected, has hit back hard in its response. Australia have never played a Test match with Afghanistan, who were awarded the status in 2017.

Afghanistan and Australia only play each other in major tournaments (Photo by Alex Davidson-ICC/ICC ... [+] via Getty Images)ICC via Getty Images

"The ACB advocates for keeping cricket distinct from political influence, considering the game’s significance in Afghanistan and its connection to the happiness and joy of the Afghan nation,” a statement said.

“The ACB acknowledges the pressures faced by Cricket Australia from the Australian government and emphasises the importance of addressing such issues through collaborative efforts between the two cricket boards.

"The ACB also urges the Australian government not to impose its policies on cricket boards and instead focus on supporting the development of cricket across regions.

CA has been the only board publicly - and privately, according to sources - to voice disapproval over the issue. But CA were also part of granting Afghanistan coveted Full Membership in 2017 in a decision that was unanimously approved by the International Cricket Council board.

Full Membership grants countries extra power and funds, with only 12 nations having the status in cricket's antiquated tiered membership. Development and pathway structures for women’s cricket are meant to be part of strict criteria for Full Membership. Afghanistan were granted it on the proviso that women's cricket would be developed.

But women's cricket, even before the Taliban, had barely gotten off the ground and unfortunately there is almost no chance of it restarting any time soon. Almost all of their women cricketers have fled abroad, mostly to Australia, but ICC will not sanction Afghanistan, as I first reported last year.

Women's cricket has been slow in its development (Photo credit AREF KARIMI/AFP via Getty Images)AFP via Getty Images

"There is nothing the Afghanistan board can do, it's not in their hands," an administrator privy to the situation told me last year. "Apart from Australia, it's not a divisive issue (on the ICC board)."

Afghanistan is considered something of a cricket fairy-tale with the sport gaining popularity in the 1990s after players returned home from refugee camps in Pakistan. It became the country's most popular sport and their effervescent team gained a cult following to become a symbol of pride for its beleaguered nation.

But the women's issue will remain bubbling away in the backdrop so long as Australia sticks to its stance.