Human Rights Watch (HRW) has strongly urged the International Cricket Council (ICC) to suspend Afghanistan’s participation in international cricket due to the Taliban regime’s severe oppression of women’s rights. Currently, female sports are effectively banned under Taliban rule, resulting in most of the women’s cricket team residing in exile. Despite this, the men’s team has continued to compete globally, including participation in the ICC Champions Trophy.
Minky Worden, HRW’s director of global initiatives, reached out to ICC chair Jay Shah, advocating for Afghanistan’s suspension until women and girls regain their rights to education and sports. She emphasized that the Afghanistan Cricket Board breaches ICC’s Anti-Discrimination Policy by prohibiting women from playing cricket. The letter also called for the ICC to adopt a human rights policy aligned with the UN’s guiding principles.
As international sport progresses towards bridging gaps in gender equality, Worden highlighted the obligation of governing bodies to tackle gender discrimination, especially as cricket prepares for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The response from the ICC, however, remains awaited, while Afghanistan’s men’s team competes despite its troubling political backdrop. In recent competitive play, Afghanistan finished their Champions Trophy stint early, unable to move past the group stages after a rain-affected match against Australia.
Human Rights Watch has requested the ICC to suspend Afghanistan from international cricket due to the Taliban’s severe restrictions on women’s rights. With female athletes largely in exile and the regime violating ICC’s Anti-Discrimination Policy, HRW has pressed for immediate action and the implementation of a comprehensive human rights policy by the ICC.
In conclusion, Human Rights Watch’s call to suspend Afghanistan from the ICC highlights significant human rights violations under the Taliban. With female cricket effectively banned and most players in exile, the situation contradicts ICC’s principles. As the global community pushes for equality in sports, it remains urgent for cricket’s governing bodies to take a stance against gender discrimination, ensuring all players, regardless of gender, have opportunities to participate in the sport.
Original Source: www.skysports.com
