New Delhi: The Afghanistan men’s national cricket team has seen an upward trajectory with its status in international cricket, particularly in the white-ball formats. However, the future of cricketers in the country is likely to be trembled amid speculations over Taliban thinking to impose total ban on the popular sport.
Taliban, the ultraconservative political and religious faction, has already barred women from participating sports competitions after it returned to power in the Islamic nation in 2021.
The current speculation going rounds on social media platforms, including many verified X handles (formerly Twitter) claiming that Taliban chief Hibatullah has announced a gradual ban on cricket, although there is no official confirmation over these alleged remarks.
Taliban chief Hibatullah announced a gradual ban on cricket, dispelling the claims that the Taliban has become more moderate than in the past. Many of the group’s apologists remain under the misguided belief that the Taliban is adopting a more moderate approach, but the ban on…
— BILAL SARWARY (@bsarwary) September 11, 2024
The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan Hibatullah Akhundzada has announced that he will introduce a gradual ban on cricket in the country.
The Taliban cleric believes cricket has harmful influence on the country and is against Sharia law. pic.twitter.com/KyCMwAD259
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) September 11, 2024
Afghanistan men’s cricket team reached the semifinal of the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 held in the United States of America and the West Indies. This was a huge feat for the Asian team, which was founded in 2001. Despite the Taliban’s ban on Afghanistan women’s cricket team, the International Cricket Council (ICC) didn’t suspend the men’s team from playing in ICC competitions or Test cricket.
Taliban bans on MMA
In late August this year, the Taliban banned sporting activities related to mixed martial arts (MMA) as it found them incompatible with the Islamic law (or Sharia).
One of the official from Taliban’s sports authority, while speaking to local broadcaster TOLOnews, said that MMA was ‘too violent’ and posed ‘a risk of death’, as reported by BBC Sport.
“It was found that the sport is problematic with respect to Sharia and it has many aspects which are contradictory to the teachings of Islam,” the Taliban’s General Directorate on Physical Education and Sport said in a statement sent to the AFP news agency.
“That’s why this decision has been made.”
According to another AFP report, young MMA trainees in in eastern Kabul worry their days in the octagonal fighting cage are numbered. Hence, cricket’s ban in Afghanistan shouldn’t be strange after some radical changes brought by the Taliban regime since it stormed back to power three years ago.
Taliban, the ultraconservative political and religious faction, has already barred women from participating sports competitions after it returned to power in the Islamic nation in 2021. Even the Afghanistan women’s cricket team is barred from playing the sport. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
