Australia’s historic Test against Afghanistan in November is all but cancelled. According to a release by Cricket Australia, “If the statement against Women Cricket by Afghanistan Cricket’s new set-up is substantiated, they will cancel the one-off test’.
Not only CA, but International Cricket Council (ICC) is also set to review the status of the Middle Eastern nation following the Taliban’s takeover.
An update on the proposed Test match against Afghanistan ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/p2q5LOJMlw
— Cricket Australia (@CricketAus) September 9, 2021
Why Afghanistan Test Status is in doubt?
Afghanistan Cricket is now under the new regime of Taliban who have declared that women will not be allowed to play cricket because it is not a priority.
“I don’t think women will be allowed to play cricket because it is not necessary that women should play cricket,” said deputy head of cultural commission Ahmadullah Wasiq.
“In cricket, they might face a situation where their face and body will not be covered. Islam does not allow women to be seen like this.
“It is the media era, and there will be photos and videos, and then people watch it. Islam and the Islamic Emirate do not allow women to play cricket or play the kind of sports where they get exposed.”
The stance doesn’t go down well with the ICC’s policy of inclusion and growing women’s cricket.
As a result, an ICC spokesman told SBS said Afghanistan’s status as one of 12 Full Members would be discussed.
“The ICC is committed to the long-term growth of women’s cricket and despite the cultural and religious challenges in Afghanistan, steady progress has been made in this area since Afghanistan’s admission as a Full Member in 2017,” the statement read.
“The ICC has been monitoring the changing situation in Afghanistan and is concerned to note recent media reports that women will no longer be allowed to play cricket.
“This and the impact it will have on the continued development of the game will be discussed by the ICC Board at its next meeting.”
Australia was scheduled to play Afghanistan in the first Test between the two nations on November 27 in Hobart. But for now the status of the match stays highly doubtful.
