On March 20, Afghanistan’s cricket authorities voiced their disappointment over Australia’s decision to cancel a men’s T20 series due to concerns about the deteriorating women’s rights under Taliban rule. They urged for cricket to remain free from political influence
Cricket Australia stated that they had received advice indicating that the situation for women and girls in Afghanistan was deteriorating. As a result, they decided to postpone the three-match series scheduled for August, which was likely to have been held in the UAE.
“The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) expressed disappointment regarding Cricket Australia’s decision to postpone yet another bilateral series against Afghanistan. The ACB reiterated its stance on neutral and politics-free cricket worldwide,” stated a released statement.
The announcement, made on Tuesday, marked the third occasion since 2021, when the Taliban regained control, that Australia declined to engage in matches against Afghanistan outside of international tournaments.
Cricket has experienced a surge in popularity within Afghanistan in recent years, propelled by victories over larger nations in international competitions.
However, under the Taliban government’s interpretation of Islamic law, women are effectively prohibited from participating in the sport, as part of a series of restrictions on women in Afghanistan that the United Nations has termed “gender apartheid.”
The ACB urged the Australian government to refrain from imposing its policies on cricket boards and instead concentrate on supporting the sport’s development.
The board emphasized the importance of keeping cricket free from political influence, highlighting its significance in Afghanistan and its role in bringing happiness and joy to the Afghan nation.
Prior to the Taliban’s resurgence, Afghanistan’s cricket board was making gradual strides in expanding the game among women. In 2020, it even contracted a small number of semi-professional players. However, most of these players eventually fled to Australia.
