World cricket leaders have no intention of banning Afghanistan’s men’s team from participating in the upcoming Champions Trophy, nor are they demanding that the Taliban permit a women’s team to represent the country, Sky News has learned.
In light of the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) policy mandating Test-playing nations to support women’s cricket, British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is advocating for the ICC to adhere to its own regulations. This intervention follows requests from over 160 MPs and peers urging the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to boycott its match against Afghanistan in the ICC’s 50-over tournament next month.
South Africa’s sports minister, Gayton McKenzie, also voiced support for the boycott, given South Africa’s scheduled match against Afghanistan in the same group as England. However, Cricket South Africa stated that their stance on Afghanistan should align with that of the ICC regarding international tournament participation.
The crux of the concern centers on the ICC’s apparent breach of its own guidelines, especially since women and girls have been banned from participating in sports since the Taliban regained control in 2021. Despite this, Sky News understands that the ICC’s strategy is to influence the Taliban to permit women’s cricket instead of imposing sanctions on Afghanistan.
Privately, the ICC believes that punishing male players for the actions of the Taliban would be unfair, as the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) cannot control the government’s policies. The ICC granted Afghanistan full membership in 2017, despite the absence of a women’s cricket program, citing cultural reasons.
In 2020, the Afghanistan Cricket Board took steps to establish a women’s team by awarding contracts to 25 female players, aligning with traditional Afghan and Islamic values. However, following the Taliban’s resurgence, plans for an international women’s match were abandoned.
The ICC has established a task force focused on Afghanistan to encourage the advancement of women’s rights through the sport. An ICC spokesperson confirmed ongoing engagement with the ACB to promote cricket development for both men and women in Afghanistan.
Despite these efforts, criticism from Afghan women’s sports advocates continues. Khalida Popal, former captain of the Afghanistan women’s football team, expressed deep disappointment, stating that governing bodies have failed to take decisive action regarding the treatment of Afghan women in sports. “There has been clear gender discrimination in sport, and they have ignored the women of Afghanistan,” she told Sky News.
FIFA is similarly facing scrutiny for allowing Afghanistan’s men’s team to compete internationally while not actively restoring women’s football, despite previously assisting in the evacuation of players during the Taliban takeover in 2021. FIFA President Gianni Infantino acknowledged the challenges of addressing political, social, and religious issues across different countries.
Popal called on cricket authorities to support Afghan women unequivocally, urging them to make a strong statement against discrimination. The ECB has opted not to schedule any bilateral men’s matches against Afghanistan, emphasizing the need for a unified approach among all countries regarding ICC tournament participation.
Mr. McKenzie highlighted the moral responsibility to address women’s exclusion in sports, drawing parallels to the historical discrimination faced by his own community during Apartheid. He asserted that, if it were up to him, South Africa would not participate in fixtures against Afghanistan under the current circumstances.
As the situation unfolds, cricket authorities are caught between navigating international competition and addressing profound ethical concerns regarding women’s participation and rights in Afghanistan.
Credit: Sky News
