Afghanistan cricket: All you need to know as England pressures ICC to act | Cricket news

Politicians and cricket boards are urging the International Cricket Council (ICC) to take a stand against the Taliban’s alleged abuses of women’s rights.

The situation is so serious and complicated that England’s men’s team have now been ruled out of next month’s Champions Trophy match against Afghanistan, and ECB chairman Richard Gould has written to the ICC calling for a change.

Here’s everything we know so far…

Why the boycott calls?

England will face Afghanistan in Lahore on February 26 in the Champions Trophy, but there have been various calls for the game to be scrapped.

Because the Taliban’s abuse of women’s rights in Afghanistan has escalated, one of the latest laws prohibits women from speaking in public.

Dropping games against the men’s team draws attention to the plight of the women’s team and sets an example that the sport will not tolerate.

What is the background?

In the year August 15, 2021 The Taliban regains power in Afghanistan, banning girls from schools and universities, and women’s rights begin to decline rapidly, raiding the homes of female athletes, some of whom are forced to burn anonymity kits.

This was not the first time women’s rights had been restricted by the Taliban: they ruled from 1996 to 2001, when they were deposed.

In the year In 2000, the ban on cricket was lifted by the Taliban, allowing the sport to grow exponentially.

In June 2017, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) convinced the International Cricket Council (ICC) to grant it full membership status, allowing the national men’s team to participate in official Test matches.

Although they could not meet the requirements around women’s cricket, they were rewarded with membership in the hope that progress would be made in that area.

In the year In 2020, 25 women were given central contracts and featured in advertising campaigns by the National Cricket Board.

But a year later, the women’s cricket team was forced to flee after the Taliban regained power, seeking refuge in Pakistan before being granted emergency visas to Australia, where most now live.

Payments to women have been cut off under the Taliban regime and despite several attempts by the group, there has been no communication from the ICC or the ACB.

Who said it?

No one from Afghanistan’s men’s team has spoken out in support of their female counterparts.

However, various human rights organizations have been speaking out for years.

In the year 2023 Human Rights Watch called the situation. “Sex Apartheid” in Afghanistan

Last year in Amnesty International urged the International Criminal Court to stop ignoring women’s groups. And give them support: “It’s a terrible thing that the cricket team has to flee for their safety, but it’s really sad that Afghanistan’s women cricketers are so angry with the ICC and the international cricket community.

“If we are truly committed to upholding the values ​​of anti-discrimination, the ICC must stop ignoring Afghanistan’s brave women’s group and give them the recognition and support they deserve.”

England women’s head coach John Lewis expressed his support: “I think they should play. Anyone deserves the right to represent their country in whatever sport they choose.”

“I don’t think it’s the right decision from my point of view that they’re being banned.”

Recently, a group of over 160 politicians including Nigel Farage, Jeremy Corbyn and Lord Kinnock; He signed a letter calling for a boycott of England.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has called on the ICC to come up with its own rules, with culture secretary Lisa Nandy saying the game “must go on” to avoid punishing the England team, but suggested British dignitaries should block the event. .

With increased pressure on the ECB, the main Richard Gould wrote to his ICC counterpart He urged the sport’s global governing body to consider taking action against the Afghanistan Cricket Board.

What did the ICC do?

In the year In 2021, the ICC established an Afghanistan Working Group to influence change and monitor the situation in the country.

However, the board members were all male and had no representation from the Afghan women’s group.

In the year Following the 2023 summit, cricket chiefs have significantly increased Afghanistan’s budget without offering any reforms to the women’s team.

The women’s team was completely ignored by the ICC while it was in exile, and the governing body did not respond. Sky Sports Questions about the situation.

But now politicians are contributing to the conversation. An ICC spokesperson said. Sky Sports News“The ICC is closely involved with the situation in Afghanistan and working closely with our members.

“We are committed to using our influence constructively to encourage ACB in the development of cricket and to ensure playing opportunities for both men and women in Afghanistan.”

“The ICC has established a Afghanistan Cricket Task Force, headed by its Vice-Chairman, Mr. Imran Khwaja, to lead the ongoing discussions on this issue.”

ICC rules state that full membership is conditional on having women’s cricket teams and road structures.

But the men’s team is allowed to participate in ICC tournaments without penalty.

Have there been boycotts before?

From the men’s one-day series against Afghanistan in January 2023, the Taliban cited a decision to impose further restrictions on girls and women’s education.

The ACB has described the decision as “unfair” and “unfortunate” as spinner Rashid Khan said he would consider his future in Australia’s franchise competition, the Big Bash League.

Rashid was initially included in the squad for the Adelaide Strikers after reneging on his boycott threat, but was later withdrawn due to injury.

Earlier this year, Australia pulled out of the T20 series against Afghanistan, citing deteriorating human rights conditions for women and girls in the Taliban-ruled country.

The ECB also maintained its stance of not arranging any bilateral cricket matches with Afghanistan.

However, it is important to note that in the last 18 months, Australia and England have played against Afghanistan and have not extended their boycott to international ICC tournaments. Series.

In the year In 2003, Nasser Hussain’s England team defied Robert Mugabe’s regime and lost the World Cup match against Zimbabwe, prompting then Prime Minister Tony Blair to urge England not to travel to Harare.

“We have made it clear to the players that they should not go, (…) I hope they will take our advice into consideration. It is up to them whether they do that or not,” Blair said at the time. .

Following the boycott, England were kicked out of the tournament.