Women's cricket in Afghanistan: Lack of progress 'a concern' for ICC

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jaybro
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Women's cricket in Afghanistan: Lack of progress 'a concern' for ICC

Post by jaybro »

"It's something our board will consider at its next meeting in March," says CEO Geoff Allardice, as Afghanistan remain only Full Member without a women's team

Afghanistan's continuing lack of commitment to women's cricket has finally become a "concern" for the ICC, as the global body prepares to stage its first Under-19 Women's T20 World Cup later this week. Afghanistan are the only Full Member to not be represented at the event in South Africa, in which 16 teams are participating. Well over a year after the Taliban came to power in Afghanistan, women's cricket has not made any headway at all in the country and signs are that it won't in the near future, compelling the ICC to take up the matter at its next board meeting in March.

The global governing body had formed a working group to review cricket in Afghanistan following the Taliban's takeover of the country in 2021. The group, chaired by the ICC deputy chair Imran Khwaja, met with Afghanistan government and cricket officials in November last year, including the Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen. The government reportedly reiterated its commitment to comply with the ICC constitution, including agreeing in principle to support the development of women's cricket.

But in reality nothing has been done to encourage women to pick up the game, even when they made a formal effort to expand their domestic structure and take cricket to new regions. There are six tournaments across all formats for men's cricket, from age group to senior level. But as yet, there has been no investment in women's cricket, and Afghanistan is the only cricketing nation to have Full Member status without satisfying one of its basic requirements: a fully operational women's team.

And prospects have become bleaker recently, after the Taliban regime ordered an indefinite ban on university education for girls, which, according to the ICC CEO Geoff Allardice, is concerning.

"Obviously, the recent developments [banning higher education for girls] in Afghanistan are concerning," Allardice said during a virtual press conference. "Our board has been monitoring progress since the change of regime. It is a concern that progress is not being made in Afghanistan and it's something our board will consider at its next meeting in March. As far as we are aware, there isn't activity at the moment."

Since the Taliban took over, many women have fled - or sought to leave - the country. A number of women were working in the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) headquarters in Kabul, but are no longer coming into the office. Several have reportedly gone overseas.

"Women's cricket in Afghanistan has always been a burning issue and I don't see there is a solution right now," Asad Ullah, until recently a director with the ACB, told ESPNcricinfo. "There will be a cultural challenge and we hardly have a pool of players in the country. In fact, there has never been a women's team even before the Taliban came into power. There were a handful of girls playing cricket within their home as a recreational activity. It never made it onto the field because there was no real intent or platform.

"There hasn't been any interest at all. Definitely they can play, if they want to, but in Afghanistan, it was not an option for girls. There is a big number of girls who left the country thinking that they won't have the freedom to play sports. But are they playing sports in Australia or elsewhere? I don't think so. They left for a better future which is their right but cricket among girls in Afghanistan hasn't been popular anyway and it hasn't been encouraged either.

"It is largely because of the lack of acceptance about women going out. ICC should understand the dynamics in the country and it's not something they can enforce and government can implement at once. It takes time. Every country operates within their own law. There are certain things that aren't open as in western society."

ESPNcricinfo has written to the ACB seeking its official stance on women's cricket but has not yet received a response.
ICC taking their sweet arse time coming down on Afghanistan for government interference, took less than a week to suspend Zimbabwe, according to Brendan Taylor the suspension is the reason why he went to India to "network" maybe he should sue them :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: (just joking btw)

Interesting to see what happens here, if Afghanistan are suspended then it opens up that extra spot for the WC, which will put Zimbabwe in the position where they'll only have to face one traditional Big 8 nation in the qualifiers.


https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/wome ... cc-1353307
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Re: Women's cricket in Afghanistan: Lack of progress 'a concern' for ICC

Post by Kriterion_BD »

I don't personally believe the ACB should be suspended, the ICC knew what the status of the women's game was when they elected to promote them to full member/Test status. Besides, diplomacy works better anyways.

That being said, if they are suspended - it will be a permanent suspension. The Taliban won't be reconsidering their position, so Afghanistan cricket will end. I think its 50-50 whether the ICC decides to hold the ACB to the same standard as all other full members.
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Re: Women's cricket in Afghanistan: Lack of progress 'a concern' for ICC

Post by sam_ahm »

Australia have cancelled their 3 match ODI series against Afghanistan. This might mean forfeiting the points but it won't impact either teams WC qualification.

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Re: Women's cricket in Afghanistan: Lack of progress 'a concern' for ICC

Post by jaybro »

Kriterion_BD wrote:
Thu Jan 12, 2023 4:25 am
I don't personally believe the ACB should be suspended, the ICC knew what the status of the women's game was when they elected to promote them to full member/Test status. Besides, diplomacy works better anyways.

That being said, if they are suspended - it will be a permanent suspension. The Taliban won't be reconsidering their position, so Afghanistan cricket will end. I think its 50-50 whether the ICC decides to hold the ACB to the same standard as all other full members.
How on earth have you come to the inclusion they shouldn't be suspended? You've had some hot takes, but this one probably takes the cake.

And what type of diplomacy is just saying "Well what you're doing is wrong, but we don't want to make a big fuss so carryon"

Government interference in the game, can't be any clearer than this. The Taliban who are the government of the country have banned women from playing cricket. Suspend them like they did Zimbabwe and Nepal once their governments intervened in the running of the game.

I for one couldn't care less about them, plus all their players a t20 merchants anyways so it'll probably be a blessing in disguise for Rashid Khan and the likes
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Re: Women's cricket in Afghanistan: Lack of progress 'a concern' for ICC

Post by cricket_22001 »

I was going to ask Kriterion this in the Bangladesh watch thread but what chance the Bangladesh v Afghanistan tests taking place in June? According to the FTP, a full tour of Bangladesh is to made by Afghanistan.
Personally I feel the ICC should grow a pair & tell Afghanistan if they don’t want to play tests, don’t accept full membership renumeration.

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Re: Women's cricket in Afghanistan: Lack of progress 'a concern' for ICC

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They should never have become Full Members.

It's worth noting that the sudden stand the ICC and Australia are taking now is very strange, because;

Pre-Taliban, Afghanistan had no women's cricket.
When they became full members, Afghanistan had no women's cricket.
Why did everyone turn a blind eye back then?

The Full Member status criteria are very clear and are public. There are various conditions and criteria to bet met on women's cricket. Afghanistan does not fill them, simple. Everyone else has to. Zimbabwe privately got a bollocking by the ICC in 2021 and were forced to increase funding for women's cricket almost immediately and put in place various pathways and things. Why do we have to comply with certain thigns whilst Afghanistan don't? Completely ridiculous situation.


There is a very clear condition in Associate Member criteria that allows boards to be exempt from women's cricket on religious or cultural grounds in exceptional corcumstances. It is very very clear that this is the membership category that Afghanistan therefore belong in.

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Re: Women's cricket in Afghanistan: Lack of progress 'a concern' for ICC

Post by secretzimbo »

Oh and I'd wager that Australia suddenly taking a stand and not playing Afghanistan is nothing to do with politics or human rights and everything to do with just not wanting to fulfil some loss-making fixtures against a minnow.

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Re: Women's cricket in Afghanistan: Lack of progress 'a concern' for ICC

Post by secretzimbo »

Kriterion_BD wrote:
Thu Jan 12, 2023 4:25 am
I don't personally believe the ACB should be suspended, the ICC knew what the status of the women's game was when they elected to promote them to full member/Test status. Besides, diplomacy works better anyways.
:lol:

The Taliban are of course famous for their level-headed diplomacy :lol:

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Re: Women's cricket in Afghanistan: Lack of progress 'a concern' for ICC

Post by Kriterion_BD »

secretzimbo wrote:
Thu Jan 12, 2023 5:29 pm


The Taliban are of course famous for their level-headed diplomacy :lol:
What other option is there? Banning the men from playing cricket won't make the Taliban allow women's education or sports...its simply a punitive measure and one where the Taliban aren't even hurt. You're right though, I highly doubt CA's decision has much to do with human rights, and is more so a financial consideration.
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Re: Women's cricket in Afghanistan: Lack of progress 'a concern' for ICC

Post by secretzimbo »

Kriterion_BD wrote:
Thu Jan 12, 2023 7:11 pm
secretzimbo wrote:
Thu Jan 12, 2023 5:29 pm


The Taliban are of course famous for their level-headed diplomacy :lol:
What other option is there? Banning the men from playing cricket won't make the Taliban allow women's education or sports...its simply a punitive measure and one where the Taliban aren't even hurt. You're right though, I highly doubt CA's decision has much to do with human rights, and is more so a financial consideration.
You don’t have to ban them or suspend them.

Just send them back to associate membership. The criteria for associate membership stipulates exemptions for women’s cricket are allowed.

If they have FM voting rights and an FM funding allocation then they will have to comply with FM rules.

It’s one or the other, it’s their choice.

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