Cricket

Cricket South Africa (CSA) has reaffirmed its commitment to bilateral fixtures with Afghanistan, despite criticism over the Taliban's repressive policies towards women. CSA believes that isolating the Afghan men's team would be ineffective and unjust, as it would punish innocent players for the actions of their government.CSA's stance aligns with the International Cricket Council (ICC), which has expressed concern over the lack of a women's team in Afghanistan but has not imposed a ban. The ICC recognizes the complexities of forcing the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) to field a women's team, given the potential risks to their safety.CSA argues that gender advocacy in cricket should not come at the expense of innocent administrators and players. It points to its own history of isolation during the Apartheid era, which did not effectively promote change. Instead, economic sanctions proved more effective in breaking the regime's resistance.CSA also acknowledges the progress made by the ACB in promoting women's cricket prior to the Taliban's takeover. In 2020, the ACB pledged contracts to 25 female players and organized a training camp. However, the Taliban's ban on female participation in sports has halted these efforts.The South African Cricketers' Association (SACA) supports CSA's position, calling for the promotion of women's rights while recognizing the challenges faced by the ACB. South Africa's ODI captain, Temba Bavuma, has also expressed his support for women's rights.CSA's decision to continue playing Afghanistan has drawn criticism from some quarters, including Lawyers for Human Rights, which argues that it tacitly endorses the Taliban regime. However, CSA believes that engagement and dialogue are more effective than isolation in promoting change.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is facing mounting pressure to address the Afghanistan Cricket Board's (ACB) failure to field a women's team, a key criterion for Full Membership. At the ICC's annual meetings in Colombo this weekend, the prospect of ring-fencing funds for Afghanistan women's cricket is expected to be raised.Several cricket boards, including Cricket Australia (CA) and New Zealand Cricket (NZC), are reportedly keen to discuss the possibility of setting aside a percentage of the ICC's annual revenue distribution to Afghanistan for the development of women's cricket. This move would ensure that funds are specifically allocated and used towards supporting women's cricket in the country.The discussion has gained urgency following a letter from 17 Afghanistan women cricketers to ICC Chair Greg Barclay. The letter requested assistance in establishing a refugee team in Australia, where many of them have fled. The letter acknowledged the achievements of the Afghanistan men's team but highlighted the Taliban's restrictive policies that prevent the ACB from recognizing a women's team.Since the Taliban's return to power in 2021, women's rights in Afghanistan have been severely curtailed, including restrictions on education, work, and sporting activities. The 17 women cricketers have asked the ICC to recognize them as a refugee team under the East Asian Cricket office based at Cricket Australia.However, any such discussion will face complexities. The ICC's revenue distribution model does not specify how much money should be spent on women's cricket, making it challenging to determine an appropriate percentage to set aside. Additionally, the ACB receives approximately USD 17 million annually from the ICC, and it is unclear who would be responsible for directing the funds towards women's cricket.The ICC relies on individual boards to compile and recognize teams, so it cannot officially recognize the 17 women who wrote to the ICC. These questions will need to be addressed if a proposal to ring-fence funds for Afghanistan women's cricket is agreed upon.

Afghan Women Cricketers Seek ICC Support for Refugee TeamIn the wake of the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan, 17 female cricketers who were contracted by the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) in 2020 have appealed to the International Cricket Council (ICC) for assistance in establishing a refugee team based in Australia.The players, who have been unable to represent their country since the Taliban banned women from participating in sports, have requested the ICC's "support and guidance" in formalizing their team. They acknowledge that the ACB cannot recognize them as a national team due to government policies.Instead, the players have proposed being administered by the East Asian Cricket office based at Cricket Australia as a refugee team. This would allow them to "represent all Afghan women who dream of playing cricket but are unable to in Afghanistan."The players' request comes as the Afghan men's cricket team has achieved unprecedented success, reaching the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup. While expressing pride in the men's achievements, the women's players lamented their own inability to represent their country."A profound sadness remains that we, as women, cannot represent our country like the male cricketers," they wrote in a letter to ICC Chair Greg Barclay.The ICC currently cannot offer the players official status because it relies on individual boards to compile and recognize teams. The ACB, due to the Taliban's stance on women, cannot recognize a women's team.To address this, the exiled players have requested recognition as a refugee team. They emphasize that only Afghan refugee cricketers would be included in their proposed set-up."Our goals in having a refugee team are to develop and showcase our talent, give hope to the women remaining in Afghanistan, and to draw attention to the challenges women of Afghanistan face," the players stated.The ICC has been contacted for comment on the players' request.

The ICC's partnership with UNICEF to empower girls through cricket faces a stark contrast with the Taliban's suppression of women's rights in Afghanistan. While the Afghanistan men's cricket team has achieved remarkable success, the country's women are denied basic freedoms.The ICC's dilemma lies in balancing its commitment to gender equality with the potential consequences of banning Afghanistan for violating its charter. The Taliban's allowance of men's cricket is a calculated move to appease Pakhtun men, a source of their power.However, the Taliban's sensitivity to international perception suggests that cricket embargos could have an impact. By turning its back on the Afghanistan men's team, the ICC would not only punish the players but also send a strong message to the Taliban.The situation echoes the Apartheid era in South Africa, where many talented cricketers were denied international careers due to the racist policies of the government. While the role of cricket in the fall of Apartheid is debatable, it undoubtedly contributed to the pressure on the regime.Today, South Africa faces challenges in implementing transformation targets in its sports teams, highlighting the ongoing tensions between politics and sport. The Afghanistan situation presents a similar dilemma, where a response must be both effective and politically feasible.As consumers of the sport, we have a responsibility to inform the direction taken by governing bodies. By understanding the complexities of the situation, we can contribute to a solution that balances the pursuit of gender equality with the potential consequences for the Afghanistan men's cricket team.