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.

It was more than that, Trump went to the Taliban and made a deal.

Where does the team even live, I think most if not all are expats

Out of interest, OP, did you care about this in September when the article was written? Or before that even? Did you care about Afghan sportswomen ( or indeed the men ) at any point in the past?

I know Turner herself reposted it but mainly to promote her own journalism.

That must have been tough @NautilusLionfish I don’t expect that’s something you forget easily.

Your post is misleading, OP. England will be playing Afghanistan as part of the Champions Trophy (basically a World Cup), on neutral ground. England, along with Australia, have said they will no longer play Afghanistan in bilateral cricket.

I do agree with your sentiment but the criticism needs to be aimed at the ICC, not England, as it is they who allow Afghanistan to continue competing in global events.

I’ve been aware of the women’s team for a long while, but it’s helpful to develop my knowledge and perspective, so thanks for your input and links etc.

I kind of knew that, but you clarify it so well - accuracy is important, so thank you.

Rashid Khan lives in the UAE I think . He was born in Afghanistan but his family had left during one of the wars and he was ‘discovered’ in Peshawar, Pakistan where the family lived . When Australia first said they were not going to play Afghanistan his response was
I take great pride in representing my country and we have made great progress on the world stage. This decision sets us back on that journey,” he said. “If playing against Afghanistan is so uncomfortable for Australia then I wouldn’t want to make anyone uncomfortable with my presence in the BBL. Therefore I will be strongly considering my future in that competition
He has decided not to play this season .
Australia made it clear in their statement that they were continuing to work with the Afghan cricket board .

Also it may be worth pointing out that if people want to protest to the ICC that the other people you need to sway are the Indian Cricket Board as frankly they hold the most sway ( or so it would appear) . In my opinion if India were to stop playing Afghanistan then the ICC would act .

Reading the comments has got me thinking about how the Afghan teams/players might be feeling - the prospect of playing at championship level, no doubt deserved and with all the positives that sport brings, all the while the Afghan ‘identity’ in the world overshadowed by a complex situation not of their making.

As an aside, this thread puts me in mind of the IOC decision when Russian/Belarusian athletes had to compete as AINs (Individual Neutral Athletes) at the 2022 Olympics. But that’s another story…

As a side note, there is also the complexity of Iranian football and its stance on female spectators.

Yes indeed @Piggywaspushed I’m fairly tuned into that stuff as my OH’s half-brother’s dad is Iranian.

They are good and could beat us. Let's boycott just in case.

We were having quite an amenable discussion there albeit from differing viewpoints. Trivialising it is rather crass.

Interesting thread. I initially thought yes, we should boycott. There’s so much sport washing but I hadn’t realised the complexities. Nor that the team don’t play in Afghanistan.

@NotDonna like a jigsaw puzzle, getting a better picture of things. Thanks for your comments, everyone.