Cricket match boycott? England v Afghanistan, in protest of sex-based apartheid

[DissidentDaughter]

Now the Taliban have decreed that women should not even be visible through the windows and in back yards of their own homes.

The punishment meted out for the ‘crime’ of being female is relentless: no access to education, to meaningful health and maternity services, no talking, no singing, condemned to a burkha and life in a darkened house - half the population systematically ‘disappeared’ from Afghan society. Voiceless and invisible.

What the Taliban are enforcing is a ruthless form of apartheid, yet the international community remains strangely silent.

🏏 Why is the England cricket team set to play Afghanistan in February? Surely we, and other participating nations, should be calling for a boycott?

https://x.com/victoriapeckham/status/1873328631357047195?s=61

AIBU It’s only cricket, fundamental human rights abuses are an inconvenient issue that should take a back seat.

YANBU It’s the least we can do to raise the issue of the cruel, sex-based dehumanisation of half the Afghan population.

Actually ICC rules say that full member countries , which includes Afghanistan, have to have a women’s team . Originally Afghanistan were given an exemption , that was in 2017 and it’s been allowed to slide . The Afghan women’s team is actually going to play a match apparently in Australia next month , it is made up of refugees and obviously isn’t remotely linked or ‘approved’ by the Taliban . That is 7 yrs when the ICC should have acted .

So you’re ok with a government that chooses to turn a blind eye? With a sports team that is politically unaware?

Interesting.

It is abhorrent. What can we do?

@NotDonna not sure what we can do, except continue to speak up about the terrible injustices being endured. The scale of suffering is truly mind-boggling: 21 million Afghan women and girls 💔

And the world is not listening. Where is our humanity? Perhaps write to local MPs asking for a debate in Parliament?

You can boycott. Australia did. But also be aware that captain Rashid Khan and player Mohammed Nabi have spoken against the conditions women are put under. No mean feat given that it could risk their lives (for now Taliban want to keep Afghanistan watching cricket)

This breaks my heart, men and Muslim men have to say no more

Yes but the influence on apartheid was minimal if not insignificant. It's over egged by the West. How much of a difference do you think not playing football or cricket against South African made when the same countries traded in billions of dollars with the regime thereby giving it the money and power to continue it's horrific policies? While keeping Mandela and the ANC classified as terrorists? A fine performance, no?

You would then be protesting against one of the few voices who openly criticise the Taliban for their stance on women’s education , a very brave move in an extremely repressive country . https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/dec/06/afghanistan-crickey-team-call-taliban-reverse-ban-women-medical-education

I imagine most people agree with Khan’s criticisms of the Taliban’s treatment of women. Courage calls to courage - let’s hope he’s joined by more voices.

Sport boycotted South Africa.

Lots of people boycotted South African goods.

@Lollygaggle I disagree, it backs them up.

What the taliban are doing to women in Afghanistan and their own people is nothing to do with religion. If anything, what they are doing goes against every single concept of women’s rights and the rights of the people in ALL religions. US and UK only exacerbated the issue by invading the already frail country (read this article for context: www.nytimes.com/2024/12/24/world/asia/afghanistan-taliban-us-militias.html) and by default gave the taliban more control than ever before following their departure of their failed invasion guised under ‘helping’ the Afghans. It will be a very, very sad place for a very long time much like so many other countries that have been invaded, obliterated or colonised by the West.

I know the west has a complicated history with Afghanistan but the Al Quaeda issue was (still is?) troubling. 20 years wasn’t long enough to effect and consolidate change for such an unstable region.

What an oversight - failing to consult Afghan women’s groups during the withdrawal negotiations. I feel for the young people who never knew life under the Taliban. What a nightmare.

He's a sympathy garnering stooge & you've fallen for it.

@DeathNote11 a sympathy garnering stooge?
Please explain? I don’t follow cricket.

Are there any women who work for the England set up?

I think it should go ahead with rules, all wearing burka and can't look at each other

You're absolutely right OP. How this is being swept under the carpet is horrendous.

Exactly. At great risk to himself and his family. But it's easier to judge from our safe seats

I always feel his protests might be imperfect but it's something. I grew up under a dictatorship that disappeared people. That fed people to crocodiles. That burnt people in their homes (oh an accident). Critics had road accidents with inconsistent injuries. So whatever his shortfalls (I don't personally know them) am happy for every dot of criticism especially from an Afghan male.
BTW, what have you been doing for Afghanistan That has been radically women's situation? Changing Taliban policies?

The history of Afghan Cricket is very interesting. The sport was banned under the Taliban and all the pitches were requisitioned. The sport rose from the ashes as a fight back. It is worth reading up on this. There was a book and a documentary. The sport was at the centre of trying to protect girls and women at one point (there was an amazing cricket based charity called Afghan connection).

Totally agree with this. It's something.

You haven't said it but, for clarity, in case anyone comes to this thread, the team don't play in Afghanistan (obviously) and they don't play under the Taliban flag - in itself an act of defiance.

Yes, at present , the Taliban regime seems to be attempting sportwashing via appearing to promote cricket success but they vacillate enormously on this stance. Sportswashing is everywhere .

It's more complex than Janice Turner makes out. Where the SA all white team did not speak out against apartheid (in fact many were supporters) , the Afghan cricket team have. Cricket did set up a woman's team which also now plays in exile but cricket itself is a relatively 'new' (or renewed) sport in Afghanistan and was always traditionally seen as a ray of hope - obviously the return of the Taliban added awful complexity to this. This again is different from SA who wanted to remain as leaders on the world stage in cricket . If we had played SA at cricket we would have travelled to SA and participated in segregation on and off the pitch.

Interesting viewpoint from an actual Afghan woman cricketer (I'm not clear what Turner actually knows or understands about cricket). Bit old now but raises important issues. Not least that Afghan women are not going to be able to play in the country for the foreseeable future and what is needed is support for exiled cricketers - men and women - form the international sports community.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/58595784

I actually think that these events are more important than ever. we need to ensure that Afghanistan people continue to be involved in and influenced by the rest of the world if there is to be any chance of rebellion against the current regime. They need to see how different the way they live is from the majority of the world and how wrong it is.

Are you boycotting Isreal for their documented sexual assaults?