Photo Credit: Instagram Photo of @rashid.khan19
Reports indicate that the Taliban is considering a ban on all forms of cricket in Afghanistan. According to Wion, Afghanistan’s Supreme Leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, has announced plans for a gradual ban on the sport, though this has not been officially confirmed.
This move would be a significant setback for Afghan cricket, following the existing ban on women’s cricket in the country.
The potential ban reflects Akhundzada’s view that cricket is harmful and contrary to Sharia Law. This situation has created a divide within Afghanistan, with one faction led by Akhundzada and another by Sirajuddin Haqqani, who has heavily invested in Afghan cricket. In 2021, the Taliban’s ban on female sports led to Australia canceling their bilateral series against the Afghan men’s team.
Afghanistan’s cricket team is experiencing a golden period. They made headlines in the 2023 World Cup by defeating Pakistan and England, narrowly missing out on the knockout stages. Their strong performance continued in the T20 World Cup, where they defeated Australia and reached the semi-finals for the first time in their history.
Recently, Afghanistan was set to host New Zealand in their first-ever Test match against the Kiwis at Greater Noida, India. However, the match, scheduled to start on September 13, was abandoned without a ball being bowled on any of the five days.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Stay ahead of the latest cricket industry trends by subscribing to our free cricexc “daily briefing” newsletter.
