South Africa Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie said he supported calls for a boycott of Afghanistan in the Champions Trophy in Pakistan, adding his voice to those of British politicians who have called on England not to play them next month.

South Africa’s sports minister has joined public calls for the Proteas to boycott the Champions Trophy game against Afghanistan next month.

McKenzie also termed the International Cricket Council (ICC) as hypocritical for not upholding its own mandates that member nations develop men's and women's cricket.

The 50-over World Cup is far older and has been competed for since back in 1975. Australia are the record winners having run out victorious on five occasions (1987, 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2015). England took the 2019 crown after a dramatic Ben Stokes-inspired super-over win over New Zealand at Lord's.

Legendary South African all-rounder Jacques Kallis occupies the fifth spot thanks to his double-century against India at Centurion in 2010. He reached the milestone off just 267 balls before returning unbeaten on 201.

Kwena Maphaka become South Africa's youngest ever Test debutant in early January 2025. The talented fast bowler played a few ODIs and T20Is before graduating to Test level. It is not often cricketers play a Test before their 20th birthday.

Former Northern Ireland first minister Baroness Foster has called for the England men's cricket team to boycott a match against Afghanistan. She is one of seven MPs and peers from Northern Ireland, along with more than 160 other parliamentarians,