Cricket South Africa has confirmed it will continue to engage Afghanistan in bilateral fixtures because it does not believe in punishing the men's team for the Islamic Emirate's actions in their home country.

CSA's statement comes in response to criticism including from activist organisation Lawyers for Human Rights, which called for CSA to boycott Afghanistan due to the Islamic Emirate’s policies on women and girls.

In a statement issued on Thursday, CSA confirmed that although it believes "women's cricket deserves equal recognition and success," it would not unilaterally isolate the Afghanistan men's team for its country's government policy.

"CSA remains mindful that gender equity should never come at the expense of one gender over another," the statement said. "We recognise that advocating for the advancement of one gender should not undermine the rights of the other. CSA believes there is no justification for subjecting Afghan cricket players - both male and female - to secondary persecution for the actions of the Taliban (IEA). We will continue to engage with member countries within the formal structures of the International Cricket Council (ICC) to address this matter."

Cricket Australia, on the other hand, has taken the opposite position and on advice from its government has refused to play Afghanistan bilaterally in protest against the Islamic Emirate’s policies on women and girls.

South Africa and Afghanistan are currently playing a three-match ODI series in the UAE.

Afghanistan won the first ODI by six wickets to register their first ever victory in cricket against South Africa.

The second ODI will be on Friday.

Iran sealed their spot in the knockout phase of the FIFA Futsal World Cup on Thursday after defeating Guatemala 9-4.

Their group stage match was held at Bukhara Universal Sports Complex in Uzbekistan.

Morocco also went through to Round of 16 after edging out Panama 6-3 in their group stage match Thursday in Uzbekistan.

The Group E clash showcased Morocco’s offensive prowess and tactical discipline, solidifying their position as serious contenders in the tournament.

This victory puts Morocco at the top of Group E with six points, followed by Portugal in second place.

Portugal also secured their sport in the knockout round after defeating Tajikistan 3-2 in their group stage match.

Jorge Braz’s charges controlled the first 20 minutes, but Tajikistan, roared on by considerable support in Tashkent, threatened a comeback in the second half.

France in turn soared into the last 16 with a hard-fought win over Venezuela in Bukhara.

Kevin Ramirez gave France a 3-2 first-period lead, and while his namesake Briceno levelled matters just after the restart, Mamadou Toure and Nelson Lutin restored French power. Ramirez then, with the flying goalkeeper far away from home, lifted in a sixth, before Sid Belhaj rounded out the scoring.

A brilliant bowling display propelled Afghanistan to their first win over South Africa in international cricket on Wednesday night after they bundled their African opponents out for 106 in the first of three ODIs.

The stars of the match were undoubtedly Fazalhaq Farooqi and 18-year-old sensation Mohammad Ghazanfar who shared seven wickets between them.

Having won the toss, South Africa opted to bat first only to be jolted by Farooqi's early strikes. The left-arm pacer came around the wicket to account for Reeza Hendricks and Aiden Markram early on.

He added the wicket of Tony de Zorzi before Ghazanfar worked his magic on the middle-order, dismissing Tristan Stubbs and debutant Jason Smith for ducks in the same over.

South Africa, reduced to 29/5, soon crumbled to 36/7 as Ghazanfar snared the wicket of Kyle Verreynne and Andile Phehlukwayo succumbed to a run out.

An eighth-wicket partnership of 39 between Wiaan Mulder and Bjorn Fortuin, however, saw them past the danger and threatened to rebuild the innings.

Fortuin was bowled by Rashid Khan, playing his first ODI since last year's World Cup, but Mulder dragged them past the hundred mark, going on to reach his first ODI fifty.

He fell shortly afterwards to Farooqi, his 52 coming from 84 balls with five fours and a six.

Rashid wrapped up the innings in 33.3 overs when he had Lungi Ngidi leg before to finish with 2-30.

Afghanistan will play the second of three ODI’s against South Africa on Friday.