The worsening plight of women in Afghanistan under the Taliban regime underscores the fallacy of claims that gender restrictions are merely religious and unavoidable. When Taliban leaders assert that “women are not allowed by religion to attain any kind of education”, they mask the systemic exclusion and oppression of women and girls. What is even more disturbing than the systematic exclusion alone, however, is the way the Taliban’s regional allies seem tacitly to accept this rationale, thereby perpetuating gender-based discrimination.
Australia continues to be the only cricketing country to oppose playing Afghanistan in a bilateral series due to its human rights violations. While this sends a strong message by condemning the systemic oppression of women and girls under Taliban rule and drawing global attention to Afghanistan’s dire human rights situation, its effectiveness is debatable. Critics have argued that punishing the cricket team will have little direct effect on the Taliban’s governance and will instead alienate ordinary Afghans and undermine Afghan athletes’ morale and opportunities.
Symbolic actions such as boycotts are crucial, but they must be part of a broader strategy — which include diplomatic efforts, targeted sanctions on Taliban leaders, and substantial support for grassroots movements advocating for women’s rights in Afghanistan.
How sports intersect with human rights
It is clear that the situation of women in Afghanistan cannot be viewed through a simplistic lens of religion and cultural relativism. The gender apartheid enforced by the Taliban is severe and systematic, disproportionately affecting Afghan women and girls. Since the Taliban’s takeover, Afghan women have faced a drastic rollback of their rights, with bans on education, employment, and freedom of movement. These actions amount to severe human rights violations.
The Taliban’s arbitrary and oppressive measures have, moreover, devastated institutions integral to women’s lives and civic participation, including schools, universities, and healthcare facilities. The denial of vital education and women’s sports has only compounded their suffering.
The remarkable achievements of Afghanistan’s cricket team symbolise hope and inspiration for our war-torn nation. As Hillary Clinton noted in 2010, the Afghan national cricket team exemplifies how to face international challenges with skill, dedication, and teamwork. The regulations of the International Cricket Council (ICC) require countries to have women’s cricket teams to maintain full member status, which Afghanistan currently lacks. Despite this, the ICC has not penalised the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB), arguing they do not recognise the Taliban as the legitimate authority and thus won’t punish the ACB for following national laws. This stance highlights the challenges sports federations face in applying rules consistently while giving consideration to political contexts.
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At its heart, the ACB’s neglect of women’s cricket signifies a blatant disregard for fundamental human rights, effectively erasing Afghan women’s cricket from the public sphere and perpetuating a climate of fear and intimidation. For this reason, I contend that the ACB should face sanctions until they uphold basic women’s rights, including the right to girls’ education, in Afghanistan.
The way the media covers sports has often lacked the ability to frame such issues critically and meaningfully — a gap that sports communities and organisations could effectively fill by linking the celebration of sporting success with a strong stance on human rights and gender equality.
This issue is further exacerbated by the global sports community, including developed nations, which habitually prioritise measurable outcomes and entertainment value over ethical considerations and social justice. For example, in 2023 the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket found that racism, class-based discrimination, elitism, and sexism are widespread and deep-rooted.Many sports organisations and fans celebrate victories while avoiding meaningful conversations about inclusion and social justice.
How sports can advance human rights
While I have enjoyed watching the success of the Afghan cricket team in the Twenty20 World Cup, I’ve also found myself questioning whether my enjoyment inadvertently masks the harsh realities faced by Afghan women and girls, whose opportunities have been stifled by the Taliban’s ongoing gender apartheid. As I cheer for the team, I’m reminded that I have a responsibility to not just celebrate their successes but also to advocate for justice and equality beyond the cricket field.
The Afghan cricket team occupies a unique position of influence and can play a pivotal role in advocating for human rights and gender equality in Afghanistan. There is an urgent need for standards within international cricket’s code of conduct that uphold human rights and dignity for all people. The ICC and related organisations must insist, with a unified voice, that the global movement for solidarity with Afghan women is driven by a diverse coalition of pro-human rights and pro-justice states and members.
Our commitment to transforming sports stems from the recognition that all communities and individuals — regardless of race, gender, colour, or religion — should be permitted to participate in sporting activities. These intersecting global justice movements will ultimately lead to positive change in Afghanistan and beyond.
Yaseen Ayobi is a lecturer at the Assessment and Evaluation Research Centre at the University of Melbourne. His research focuses on the dignity of displaced people and humanitarian topics in Afghanistan, Somalia, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Yemen.
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