Apex Cricket Council raises concerns over Women’s Cricket in Afghanistan

As the Apex Cricket Council prepares to host its first U-19 Women’s 20-20 World Cup later this week, it has at last expressed “concern” about Afghanistan’s ongoing lack of support for women’s cricket. Afghanistan is the only ‘Full Member’ that is not represented at the competition in South Africa, where 16 teams are competing. A year after the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan, women’s cricket there has made virtually no progress. And there will not be any progress soon as it seems, necessitating a discussion of the matter at the Council’s March board meeting.

The world cricket body formed a working group to evaluate cricket in Afghanistan after the Taliban took over the country in 2021. Imran Khwaja, the deputy chair of the Apex Cricket Council, led the delegation that met with Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen as well as Afghan cricket and government officials in November of last year. The administration purportedly pledged to follow the constitution and that it will encourage the development of women’s cricket.

Our board has been monitoring progress since the change of regime: Geoff Allardice

However, nothing has actually been done to encourage women to take up the sport, despite their formal efforts to extend their domestic structure and promote cricket to new locations. There are six competitions for men’s cricket across all levels, from junior to senior. Afghanistan is the only cricketing nation to have the status of Full Member without meeting one of its essential conditions, having a fully functional women’s team, as no finance has yet been granted for women’s cricket.

According to Cricket Governing Body’s CEO Geoff Allardice, the Taliban leadership’s indefinite prohibition on girls attending institutions is concerning and has made matters worse.

“Obviously, the recent developments [banning higher education for girls] in Afghanistan are concerning. 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,” Allardice said during a virtual press conference as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.