ICC Called to Address Issues in Women’s Cricket in Afghanistan | Cricbuzz.com

The Afghanistan cricket scenario remains under intense scrutiny as the International Cricket Council (ICC) faces mounting pressure to address the ongoing violation of women’s rights in the country. Human Rights Watch (HRW), a prominent international NGO dedicated to investigating and advocating against human rights abuses by both state and non-state actors, has called on the ICC to take decisive action by suspending Afghanistan Cricket Board’s (ACB) membership.

In a letter addressed to Jay Shah on Friday, March 7, HRW urged the ICC to remove Afghanistan from its membership and international cricket events until women’s right to education and sport is reinstated. The letter also advocated for the ICC to adopt a human rights policy aligned with the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

This appeal is made against the backdrop of the Champions Trophy final in Dubai. Minky Worden, Director of Global Initiatives at Human Rights Watch, pointedly reminded the ICC chairman that with cricket’s inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, the Taliban’s prohibition on women’s rights contravenes the Olympic Charter.

The letter emphasized that the ban preventing Afghan women and girls from participating in sports constitutes a flagrant breach of the Olympic Charter, which asserts sport as a human right. It further highlighted the International Olympic Committee’s call for equality and non-discrimination within all international sports federations and the UN’s stipulations for addressing gender-based workplace discrimination.

Currently, the Taliban has imposed a ban on all female sports. Some Afghan women cricketers have sought refuge in Australia, facing an acute lack of support compared to their male counterparts, which appears to contravene both the Olympic Charter and ICC’s anti-discrimination policies. This mirrors the International Olympic Committee’s 1999 suspension of Afghanistan’s National Olympic Committee, previously imposed during the Taliban’s former regime, from permitting women to participate in sports.

In response to these developments, Cricbuzz has contacted the ICC for an official statement. Jay Shah has previously expressed a commitment to advancing women’s cricket, despite the prevailing obstacles in Afghanistan. He reiterated the ICC’s dedication to supporting cricket in Afghanistan while acknowledging the challenges affecting Afghan women’s cricket, including those players residing in exile.

Shah also mentioned the ICC’s ongoing review of communications concerning Afghanistan women’s cricket and its exploration of supportive measures within the ICC’s legal and constitutional framework. The approach revolves around constructive dialogue and devising viable solutions to protect the interests of Afghan cricketers.

Previously, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), an ICC member, also advocated for action against the Afghan board.

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