Citing fears that the country’s ruling Taliban regime would ban women from participating in the sport, Australia postponed a historic first-ever cricket Test against Afghanistan on Friday.  Following consultation with “relevant stakeholders”, Australia’s cricketing authorities have decided that the men’s Test scheduled later this month in Hobart will not take place as planned.

Senior Taliban leaders said that Afghan women would no longer play cricket or any other sport after seizing the elected government in August. Women are also forbidden from going to school and other public roles under the regime’s strict reading of Islamic law. 

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Senior Taliban leaders said after seizing power that Afghan women would no longer play cricket or any other sport. Women are also forbidden from going to school and from other public roles under the regime’s strict reading of Islamic law. 

Senior Australian cricketers have stated that if the de facto ban on women’s cricket stays in place, the Test should be scrapped. 

Afghanistan’s men are at present competing in the T20 World Cup, but they have been told that if they do not field a team in the 2019 women’s World Cup in New Zealand, they will face an international ban.

In a statement, Cricket Australia said it was “committed to supporting growing the game for women and men in Afghanistan and around the world”.

“Given the present uncertainty, (Cricket Australia) felt it necessary to postpone the Test match until a later time when the situation is clearer.”

The official tweet from their account reads, “We’ve confirmed updates to the ’21-22 schedule, including postponement of the scheduled men’s Test against Afghanistan.

We look forward to hosting Afghanistan players in the BBL this season, as well as both Afghanistan teams in the future. Full update: http://cricketa.us/3q8rLKp”

Afghan cricketers are expected to be allowed to compete in Australia’s next Big Bash League season. 

Afghanistan’s dramatic growth in cricket in recent years has been nothing short of a dream, but the country is now in danger of becoming isolated due to the Taliban’s control