Australia has withdrawn from the upcoming international cricket series against Afghanistan due to new restrictions on women’s rights imposed by the Taliban government, the organization that runs the sport in the country announced Thursday.
The Australian team was due to play three games against Afghanistan in March, in the United Arab Emirates, but Cricket Australia (CA) said it decided to end the series after consulting the Australian government and other entities, according to the US news agency AP.
The Taliban regained power in Afghanistan in 2021, after a 20-year presence of an international force in the country, reintroducing restrictions on women’s rights at various levels.
The extremist group banned women from playing sports, claiming that doing so would violate Islamic laws, which they strictly interpret, by not covering their hair and skin.
CA said in a statement that the decision to withdraw from the men’s one-day international series follows recent restrictions placed by the Taliban on women’s and girls’ education and employment opportunities, and a ban on them entering parks and gyms.
“CA is committed to supporting the growth of the game for women and men around the world, including in Afghanistan, and will continue to collaborate with the Afghanistan Cricket Board to anticipate improving conditions for women and girls in the country.” he added. .
Australia previously cited similar reasons for annulling a test match against Afghanistan in November 2021.
In December last year, the Taliban banned women from completing higher education.
A month earlier, they had been banned from gyms and parks.
According to the United Nations, women are also prohibited from attending school beyond the sixth grade and doing most jobs outside their homes.
Afghanistan, where cricket is very popular, is the only country in the international cricket federation that does not have a women’s team.
Source: TSF
