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The strife-torn nation's remarkable rise has been cricket's
biggest fairytale story in recent times but Afghanistan risk
isolation following the country's Taliban takeover in August.
Cricket Australia (CA) has already threatened to scrap next
month's one-off test in Hobart between the men's teams if the
new government in Kabul did not allow women to play the sport.
World governing body ICC had taken a wait-and-watch approach on
whether Afghanistan can continue as a full member - allowing it
to play test matches - but will discuss https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/icc-adopts-wait-and-watch-approach-afghanistan-2021-10-10
the issue at a board meeting after the Twenty20 World Cup in the
Middle East.
"ACB is committed to work for the development of cricket in the
country and hope the ICC full members will provide their
support," Afghan board chairman Azizullah Fazli told Reuters.
Fazli said last month the ACB was committed to women's cricket
but was awaiting instructions from the Taliban government on its
future.
Taliban officials have said they will not repeat the harsh rule
of the previous Taliban government, which banned most girls'
education and forbade women from going out in public without a
male guardian.
CA chief executive Nick Hockley has said the Hobart test was
likely to be postponed until there was more clarity on the
impact of the Taliban takeover on sports in Afghanistan.
Fazli said he would meet CA officials on the sidelines of the
Twenty20 World Cup and try to convince them to continue with the
match as scheduled.
"We are in touch with the CA management regarding the test
match, and soon we will meet CA leadership to discuss it and
further the friendship of CA and ACB," Fazli said in text
messages.
The ACB chief added that the uncertainty would not affect the
performance of the Afghanistan team under captain Mohammad Nabi.
"The Afghanistan national cricket team is well prepared to do
their best in the T20 World Cup," he said.
Afghanistan will begin their Super 12 stage campaign with an
Oct. 25 clash against a qualifier in Sharjah.
(Reporting by Amlan Chakraborty in New Delhi; editing by Richard
Pullin)
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