The Taliban have approved Afghanistan‘s first cricket Test since their takeover, raising hopes that international matches will continue as usual under the new rule of the Islamists. “We have got approval to send the team to Australia,” the chief executive of the Afghanistan Cricket Board, Hamid Shinwari, told AFP.
During their first stint in power, before they were ousted in 2001, the Taliban banned most forms of entertainment — including many sports — and stadiums were used as public execution venues. The hardline Islamists do not mind cricket, however, and the game is popular among many fighters.
They have also promised to enforce a less strict version of Islamic law this time, after seizing the capital Kabul last month. The Test match, to be played in Hobart from November 27-December 1, was scheduled for last year but was put off due to the Covid-19 pandemic and international travel restrictions.
It will be Afghanistan’s first Test in Australia. Before the Australia tour, the Afghanistan team will feature in the T20 World Cup, to be held in the United Arab Emirates from October 17-November 15.
According to Hamid Shinwari, chief executive officer of the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB), there is also the possibility of the team visiting India for a Test series next year.
“The Taliban government has been supporting cricket and all our cricket will be held as per schedule. A spokesperson of the Taliban Cultural Commission communicated to us that Taliban will be supporting the Test match against Australia followed by a Test series against India in the first quarter of 2022,” Shinwari said as qouted by the Indian Express.
Shinwari also confirmed Afghanistan’s Under-19 cricket team will tour Bangladesh for a bilateral series later this month.
Since the evacuation of the US and NATO forces from Afghanistan after the Taliban swept into Kabul last month there have been fears that cricket and other sports would be hit.
But ACB officials categorically said that cricket was supported by the Taliban.
Afghanistan’s home ODI series against Pakistan — shifted to Sri Lanka — was last week postponed until next year over logistical and Covid-19 issues.
