Since their takeover of Afghanistan, the Taliban have approved its first cricket Test, raising hopes that international matches will continue as usual under the new rule of the Islamists.

AFP reported chief executive of the Afghanistan Cricket Board Hamid Shinwari and said, “We have got approval to send the team to Australia.”

Earlier, during their first stint in power, before they were ousted in 2001, the Taliban banned Several forms of entertainment, including many sports. They used stadiums as public execution venues.

However, the hard-line Islamists do not mind cricket and the game is popular among many fighters.

Also read: Afghans turn to land routes as Taliban take over Kabul airport

This time, they have also promised to enforce a less strict version of Islamic law, after seizing the capital Kabul last month.

The Test match, which is scheduled to be played in Hobart from November 27-December 1, was earlier scheduled for 2020. However, it was put off due to the COVID-19 pandemic and international travel restrictions.

It can be seen that this will be Afghanistan’s first Test in Australia after seizing the capital Kabul last month

Before the Australia tour, the Afghanistan team will feature in the Twenty20 World Cup, to be held in the United Arab Emirates from October 17-November 15.

Shinwari also confirmed Afghanistan’s Under-19 cricket team will tour Bangladesh for a bi-lateral later this month.

Afghanistan has never faced Australia in the five-day format – the national side has only played six Test matches since the ICC awarded it full member status in 2017.

Steve Smith, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and David Warner could be unavailable for the one-off Test due to a scheduling conflict with the Men’s T20 World Cup, which commences next month.

Since the evacuation of the US and NATO forces from Afghanistan after the Taliban swept into Kabul last month there were fears that cricket and other sports would be hit.

But ACB officials categorically said that cricket was supported by the Taliban.