Women’s cricket has already been banned in Afghanistan, and now men's cricket faces a similar fate. The Taliban’s stance against sports, particularly cricket, due to beliefs that it’s against Sharia law, is causing concerns globally
In 2021, the Taliban banned female sports, which led to global outrage. As a result, countries like Australia have canceled their bilateral series against Afghanistan men’s team
The ongoing power struggle within Afghanistan further complicates the situation. Akhunzada’s faction, which is opposed to cricket, is clashing with Sirajuddin Haqqani’s faction, which has been supportive of the sport
Despite the challenges, Afghanistan cricket has been on a golden run, with notable victories in both the 2023 World Cup and T20 World Cup. They beat giants like Pakistan, England, and Australia, marking a new chapter in their cricket history
Recently, Afghanistan was set to play a historic Test against New Zealand in Greater Noida, India. However, the match was abandoned on September 13, with no play across all five days
The uncertainty surrounding Afghan cricket’s future puts their recent achievements at risk. The question remains: will Afghan men’s cricket follow the path of the women's team under Taliban rule?