Afghanistan Focused On Proteas Despite Gayton Mckenzie's Call For Champions Trophy Boycott

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 .

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.