Afghanistan Team To Be Banned From Cricket!! Shocking News Coming In..

The atrocities committed against women and children throughout the nation by the Taliban government have prompted Human Rights Watch to make a plea to Jay Shah, the chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC), to suspend the Afghanistan men's cricket team.

Human Rights Watch is an independent, global, non-governmental organization that advocates for and studies human rights violations by different governments worldwide.

The NGO sent Jay Shah an email titled "Suspending the Afghanistan Cricket Board and Implementing a Human Rights Policy" wherein it detailed the worsening circumstances facing women throughout Afghanistan.

ICC told to suspend Afghanistan men's team

Human Rights Watch requested in a letter to the ICC that Afghanistan's participation in international cricket be suspended until the situation for women and girls in the nation improves.

"We are writing at this time to urge the International Cricket Council (ICC) to suspend Taliban-run Afghanistan from ICC membership, and from participating in international cricket, until women and girls can once again participate in education and sport in the country.

We also urge the ICC to implement a human rights policy based on the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. We also urge the ICC to implement a human rights policy based on the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights," stated the Human Rights Watch’s email to the ICC, as per ESPNCricinfo.

Regarding the promotion of women's cricket, the NGO reminded the ICC of its own rules. The declining status of women in Afghanistan during the past few years of the Taliban administration was also noted.

"We note that you have pledged 'to allocate more resources to women's cricket' during your tenure at the helm of global cricket and 'champion the ICC's mission further by allocating more resources and attention to women's cricket'.

However, since retaking power in August 2021, the Taliban have imposed a long and growing list of rules and policies that bar women and girls from exercising their fundamental rights, including to freedom of expression and movement, many forms of employment, and education beyond sixth grade. These affect virtually all their rights, including to life, livelihood, shelter, health care, food, and water," the letter said.

Follow IOC's footsteps, ICC told

The ACB was also held accountable by Human Rights Watch for failing to adhere to the ICC's regulations regarding the promotion of women's cricket. It also served as a reminder that cricket would be a feature of the upcoming Olympics and that it is a grave breach to prevent Afghan women from participating in the sport.

"By not allowing women and girls to play cricket, and not allowing a national team for women and girls to compete internationally, the Afghanistan Cricket Board is failing to abide by this Anti-Discrimination Policy.

We note that cricket has been included as a sport in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games, and yet the Taliban's ban on women and girls participating in the sport is a severe violation of the Olympic Charter's guarantee that 'the practice of sport is a human right'," it added.

The IOC has been urged to take strong measures against Afghan women's cricket participation, and the ICC has been requested to do the same. IOC went on to demand that the ICC uphold human rights in all circumstances.

"The International Cricket Council should follow in the steps of other sports governing bodies, such as the International Olympic Committee, by calling on the Taliban to include Afghan women and girls in sport, and committing to a human rights framework," the letter concluded.

Women’s condition in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan

The condition for women has gotten worse since the Taliban regained power in 2021. Many of the women are currently living in exile after even managing to escape the country.

In addition to participating in sports, girls have been prohibited from continuing their education past the sixth grade, which creates grave concerns over their rights. The ACB had committed to sign 25 women's players just prior to the Taliban takeover.

The majority of these contracted athletes reside in Australia, and they even took part in an exhibition match at Melbourne's Junction Oval between the Afghanistan Women's XI and the Without Borders XI.

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