Ireland v Afghanistan: Irish players can opt out of series, says Graeme West

Cricket Ireland chief executive Sarah Keane said on Friday the decision to host Afghanistan this summer came down to some “Moral discomfort” Due to the difficult conditions that women live in the country.

Keane, who started in the role this month, is the first permanent chief executive of a full-fledged member of the International Cricket Council (ICC).

Whether to go ahead with the series was the only item discussed at a “robust” 90-minute Cricket Ireland board meeting last week before the series was given the green light, albeit not unanimously.

“I want to acknowledge up front the moral discomfort I think we all face around this decision, and how the system treats women in particular,” she added.

The new CEO also explained the reasons behind the decision to go ahead with the August series.

“40% of our board members are women – the overall decision was that we would play Afghanistan and take our obligations as a full member seriously.

“But I think the main reason also was that people felt strongly that if we didn’t [play the series] The problem has kind of gone away, whereas we need to talk about the team of displaced Afghan women.

“They were also invited to do so [play in] Ireland but I don’t think it will happen this year because of the schedule.

“We have to make sure we look at what we can do, and it continues to be an issue for us as we highlight their plight.”