Not having women’s team unlikely to affect Afghanistan’s status as ICC Full Member

Afghanistan Team (Photo Source: Twitter/ACB)

Afghanistan cricket has been devoid of a women’s team since the Talibani regime took over the control of the country’s political apparatus. This has led to the questioning of Afghanistan’s status as a full member of the ICC which, as of now, has not been affected.

However, the matter will be discussed at the International Cricket Council‘s next board meeting in Dubai in March. In the meeting, the ICC’s working group on Afghanistan is expected to provide an update regarding the status of the Asian country’s cricket machinery.

As per a report in ESPNcricinfo, the group, headed by the ICC’s deputy chair Imran Khwaja, will push for not penalizing Afghanistan’s status. They are also going to point out the difficulties that the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) is having to face in its attempt to develop women’s cricket in the war-torn country. The working group has also been told of reduced interference of the Taliban in cricket.

Recently, Khwaja met with ACB officials and government representatives twice in Doha. Notably, in the first meeting discussions were held regarding the fate of Afghanistan cricket and how it has been affected by Taliban’s rise to power. Talks were also held regarding what steps can be taken to make cricket accessible to women.

In the second meeting held last month, the ACB made implicit statement about political interference, assuring that while the board is very supportive of starting women’s cricket in Afghanistan, the political reality of the country doesn’t allow them to go ahead with it.

It will be a slow process: Working group member

A member of the working group has clarified that the situation in Afghanistan is critical and no decision can be made in haste. He re-iterated that the ACB is willing to develop women’s cricket in the country but not everything lies within the board’s control. He further said that given the stiuation Afghanistan is in, ‘it will be a slow process’ when it comes to taking a call.

While speaking to ESPNcricinfo, an ICC board member (Ireland) and member of the working group, Ross McCollum said: “Afghanistan is a delicate situation. The guys from ACB do want to see things happen with women’s cricket. But it’s not down to them, it’s down to the people in charge. Forcing women to play cricket could lead to serious repercussions. We have to tread carefully, it will be a slow process.”

Afghanistan, along with Ireland were approved as Full Members by the ICC in June 2017. Before the Taliban took over Afghanistan, the board had made some progress in women’s cricket. The ACB held a national team trial camp in October 2020 and announced its intention to award central contracts to 25 women in the country.