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The Human Rights Watch has written to the International Cricket Council, saying the sport’s governing body has recognised and supported the men’s team from Afghanistan, but ignored repeated appeals from the women’s national team
Afghanistan Women’s XI players pose for a team photo during the cricket match with Cricket Without Borders XI, which was their first game since fleeing the Taliban three years ago. (Image: Martin KEEP/AFP/File)
A day before International Women’s Day on March 8, the Human Rights Watch wrote to the International Cricket Council to immediately suspend Taliban-run Afghanistan’s membership until women and girls can take part in the sport.
In a letter written to chairperson Jay Shah, Minky Worden – director of global initiatives at Human Rights Watch (HRW) – demanded that the men’s cricket team of Afghanistan should be suspended till the women’s team is allowed to play.
On this issue, however, the Taliban has justified its stand saying there is no culture of women working and playing sports in Afghanistan, highly placed sources told CNN-News18.
There is no ban on men’s cricket or any other sport under the Taliban regime, but women are not allowed to play any sport in the country. According to a press release by the HRW, the women’s team is keen on being recognised and wants to play at an international level.
The letter stated that the International Cricket Council (ICC) has recognised and supported Afghanistan’s men’s cricket team, but has ignored repeated appeals from the women’s team.
“The International Cricket Council’s silence on the Taliban’s discriminatory prohibition on Afghan women and girls playing sports shows disturbing disregard for fundamental human rights,” Worden said in her letter.
She added: “Since seizing power in August 2021, the Taliban have imposed policies on women and girls that bar them from secondary and higher education and severely restrict employment, freedom of expression and movement, as well as banning sports and other outdoor activities.”
Worden further said the Taliban has banned sports for women and girls, shut down training centres for them, and even threatened women athletes. She said this has forced many athletes into hiding and members of the women’s national cricket team have fled the country but continued to practice. But, they want the ICC to step in and accept international norms as well as provide equal opportunity to all, she added.
‘NO CULTURE OF WOMEN WORKING AND PLAYING’
Sources close to the Taliban told CNN-News18 that such decisions are taken by elders from Kandahar, and this is being implemented.
They further said there has never been a culture of women working and playing, and unless the ‘Jirga’, or council of elders, will decide, nothing can be said and the interim government will implement this.
WHAT IS THE ICC POLICY?
The ICC’s anti-discrimination policy states that it is “committed to ensuring that wherever cricket is played, it can be enjoyed by all players, player support personnel, officials, spectators, commercial partners and others” without discrimination on the basis of “gender, sexual orientation, disability, marital status and/or maternity status”.
Afghan women cricket players have reportedly written to the ICC for support and recognition but have never received a response. During the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) – the governing body for global sport – recognised and financially supported Afghan women athletes living abroad so that they could compete.
