The Afghanistan Women’s Cricket Saga Continues To Haunt The Sport

Afghan women play cricket at the grounds of the stadium in Herat (Photo by AREF KARIMI/AFP via Getty … [+] Images)

AFP via Getty Images

After a belated resolution between foes India and Pakistan, that caused major delays in the scheduling and resulted in logistical issues, next month’s Champions Trophy is being engulfed in more controversy.

England and South Africa have been urged to boycott matches against Afghanistan at the tournament played in Pakistan and UAE, the biggest in international cricket this year.

The Afghanistan women’s situation has been the sport’s thorniest issue, even surpassing the never-ending India-Pakistan warring, and continues to divide the sport’s power brokers.

Ever since the Taliban’s bloody takeover of Afghanistan in 2021, effectively ending the fledgling development of women’s cricket in the war-torn country, it has polarized the International Cricket Council’s 17-person board – where the power lies.

After Afghanistan avoided ICC sanctions last year, the working group was set to be disbanded only to remain intact due to Australia and England taking human rights stances.

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After advice from then Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s government, Australia became a vocal critic and for some time were a lone opposing voice on the ICC board level before being joined by England.

Both powerhouse countries are refusing to play them in bilateral series although those stances have raised eyebrows given series against Afghanistan aren’t commercially attractive.

But Australia and England still do play Afghanistan in ICC events such as World Cups and the Champions Trophy.

The issue has bubbled over after a letter – denouncing the “horrible treatment of women and girls under the Taliban regime” – signed by more than 160 British parliamentarians urged England to boycott their fixture against Afghanistan in Lahore on February 26.

England and Afghanistan play ICC events (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

Getty Images

South Africa are also under pressure not to play Afghanistan in Karachi on February 22. “If it was my decision, then it certainly would not happen,” South Africa’s sports minister Gayton McKenzie said in a statement.

“As a man who comes from a race that was not allowed equal access to sporting opportunities during Apartheid, it would be hypocritical and immoral to look the other way today when the same is being done towards women anywhere in the world.”

But it is unlikely any boycotts will ensue, with the buck passed to the ICC. There has been some public and internal pressure over sanctioning Afghanistan’s cricket board, which is meddled by the government, and effectively ban the men’s team from playing.

The Afghanistan Cricket Board receives about $17 million annually as part of the ICC’s revenue distribution model.

But few have the appetite to halt cricket’s ultimate feel-good story, a national team that provides hope and inspiration to such a beaten-down nation. It is a rise that has been heavily pushed by the ICC’s marketers in a rare tale of cricket spreading beyond traditional borders.

Afghan fans celebrate Afghanistan’s win at the T20 World Cup in rare public scenes of euphoria … [+] (Photo by -/AFP via Getty Images)

AFP via Getty Images

But pressure is mounting. The issue has remained at a stalemate, it was learned last month, despite pleas earlier in the year from the women refugees asking for assistance in setting up a team in Australia.

As I reported mid-last year, a push to set aside a percentage of Afghanistan revenue to fund women’s cricket failed to materialize. The high cost of Afghanistan’s men’s team was cited as a primary reason why funds couldn’t be deducted from the ACB’s distribution.

Afghanistan do not play cricket at home due to security issues and have been mostly based in the UAE and India. Their relationship with the sport’s undisputed India have deeper government links that seem to suggest Afghanistan’s status will remain secure.

ForbesPush To Fund Afghanistan Women’s Cricket Fails To MaterializeBy Tristan Lavalette

But it is an issue that continues to haunt cricket and administrators. And is set to rear again when an Afghanistan women’s team, consisting of refugees who moved to Australia, play a match in Melbourne on January 30.

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