New Delhi: Broadcast of the Indian Premier League (IPL) has been banned in Afghanistan by the country’s new Taliban government, over anti-Islamic contents, according to reports. Top Afghanistan cricketers like Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi and Mujeeb ur Rahman are taking part in IPL 2021.
Afghanistan Cricket Board media manager and journalist, M Ibrahim Momand announced on Twitter, saying Afghanistan national will not broadcast the remaining UAE leg of IPL 2021 owing to its possible ‘anti-Islam content, girls dancing and the attendance of bared hair women.’
“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 (sic) hair women in the (stadium) by Islamic Emirates of the Taliban,” Momand had tweeted on Sunday.
Afghanistan national 📻 📺 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 attendence of barred hair women in the 🏟️ by Islamic Emirates of the Taliban. #CSKvMI pic.twitter.com/dmPZ3rrKn6
— M.ibrahim Momand (@IbrahimReporter) September 19, 2021
Ever since the Taliban’s takeover of the country last month, they have banned most forms of entertainment including many sports and Women were completely banned from playing any sports. While the Taliban’s has shown no objection to men’s cricket, by pulling together a match in Kabul shortly after the withdrawal of foreign forces, women have been banned from playing sports, according to reports.
This decision has raised a few questions in the future of Afghanistan’s participation in Test matches, as under International Cricket Council regulations, nations must also have an active women’s team. During the extremist group’s regime from 1996 to 2001, women were banned from playing any sport. Last week, Afghanistan’s new sports chief Bashir Ahmad Rustamzai said that the Taliban will allow 400 sports but declined to confirm if women can play a single one. “Please don’t ask more questions about women,” he was quoted as saying to news agency AFP.
The second phase of IPL 2021 resumed on Sunday with a power-packed match between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Mumbai Indians (MI). So far, two matches have been played. The next match will be played between Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Rajasthan Royals (RR). The knockout stage of IPL 2021 is scheduled to begin on October 10, while the final slated to be held on October 15.
