The Taliban has reportedly banned Afghanistan media outlets from broadcasting the Indian Premier League for a “ridiculous” reason.
The Taliban has reportedly told Afghanistan media outlets not to broadcast the Indian Premier League due to “anti-Islamic content”, including dancing women.
As first reported by former Afghanistan Cricket Board media manager M. Ibrahim Momand, Afghanistan has been banned from broadcasting the T20 tournament due to female spectators in the crowd.
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“Afghanistan national (TV) will not broadcast the IPL as usual as it was reportedly banned to live the matches resumed tonight due to possible anti-Islam contents, girls dancing & the attendance of barred hair women in the by Islamic Emirates of the Taliban,” Momand tweeted on Monday.
During the Taliban’s oppressive regime from 1996 to 2001, women were completely banned from playing any sport or receiving education.
Several Afghan cricketers are competing in this year’s IPL, including Big Bash League stars Rashid Khan, Mujeeb-ur-Rahman and Mohammad Nabi.
Several of Australia’s short-format powerhouses, including Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell and David Warner, are also taking part.
Since the Taliban’s takeover last month, many of Afghanistan’s female athletes have reportedly gone into hiding and received death threats.
Earlier this month, Cricket Australia claimed it would have “no alternative” but to cancel the historic Test match against Afghanistan if women were banned from playing sport under the Taliban regime.
Afghanistan’s newly-appointed director for sports and physical education said hundreds of sports would not be banned under the Taliban regime, but repeatedly ducked questions on the issue of women’s sports.
“Please don‘t ask more questions about women,” he told AFP last week.
The second leg of the IPL commenced in the United Arab Emirates on Sunday evening, with the Chennai Super Kings defeating the Mumbai Indians by 20 runs in Dubai.
The BCCI postponed the second half of the IPL after the T20 tournament was brought to a halt back in May when several players and support staff contracted Covid-19.
Smith’s Delhi Capitals will take on Warner’s Sunrisers Hyderabad on Wednesday evening, with the ball first scheduled for midnight AEST.
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