Dubai: The International Cricket Council (ICC) is facing mounting pressure to suspend Afghanistan’s men’s cricket team due to the Taliban’s continued restrictions on women’s rights in the country. Human Rights Watch (HRW), a global advocacy organization, has written to ICC Chairman Jay Shah, urging immediate action against the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB).
In its letter, HRW highlighted the Taliban’s discriminatory policies, which have barred Afghan women and girls from participating in sports, education, and other public activities since the regime’s return to power in August 2021. The organization emphasized that the ICC’s anti-discrimination policy mandates equal opportunities for all, regardless of gender, and called for the suspension of Afghanistan’s ICC membership until women and girls are allowed to play cricket and engage in sports freely.
The letter also pointed out that cricket’s inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics underscores the importance of adhering to international norms of equality and non-discrimination. HRW criticized the ACB for failing to comply with these principles, noting that while the men’s team continues to receive financial and logistical support, the women’s team has been left without resources or recognition.
Jay Shah, who has previously pledged to allocate more resources to women’s cricket, is now under scrutiny to take decisive action. The ICC has yet to issue an official response to HRW’s demands, but the matter has sparked a global debate on the role of sports in promoting human rights and gender equality.
