19 Feb 2025

The lead up to Cricket’s ICC Championship Trophy has been overshadowed by controversy over the inclusion of Afghanistan, due to the lack of rights for women under Taliban rule.

Produced by Becky Horsbrough

A solitary protester outside parliament, Arzo Parsi stands out against a counter demonstration of supporters of the Afghan men’s cricket team and their right to play in international competitions.

For Arzo, allowing the men to play hides the injustices women are having to live with in Afghanistan.

She believes England should boycott their match at the Champions Trophy against the Taliban-led country, and is not afraid to stand up to those who oppose her views. Even if it has meant she’s received threats and backlash for her views, especially on social media.

‘We are very important members of that society’

Arzo was born in Kabul, but left for the UK in 1997 when the Taliban took over. Now an activist, she believes cricket is being used to whitewash the Taliban’s crimes against women.

“We love to see our teams win. We love to see our teams make us proud as a nation. But it’s very difficult to see our team is playing in our name, but not for us. And we women are very, very important members of that society.”

In Afghanistan women and girls have courageously spoken out; despite the risks. A group of women released a video on social media, with their identities hidden, pleading for the international community to hear their voice. Asking people to understand why allowing Afghanistan into the Champions Trophy ignores their plight.

Their oppression is being ignored, whilst the men continue to play international competitions and have all the backing of Afghanistan’s rulers. On Afghan TV, the leaders are shown with the men’s team, who they are proud to back.

Parliamentarians call for England to boycott game

But female participation in sport, and in most areas of public life, has been effectively outlawed since the Taliban returned to power in 2021.

The majority of Afghanistan’s female team are now in exile in Australia. Last month they had their first competitive match there. But they’ve had no support from the International Cricket Council (ICC) – which is also allowing the men to play despite its own rules stating that test-playing nations must support a women’s team.

Nearly 200 parliamentarians called for England to refuse to play Afghanistan due to the lack of support from the ICC.

“What is so insulting about this is the ICC is investing £70 million into the Afghan cricket team, yet nothing goes to these women. And the message has to be that they are important and that we do invest in them across the world and we celebrate sport on a global level”

‘Nothing short of gender apartheid’

The England and Wales Cricket Board has resisted pressure to boycott the match saying it believes unilateral action is not the way forward. This view has been backed by the British government, despite pressure from politicians and human rights groups.

A statement from the England and Wales Cricket Board says:

“What is happening in Afghanistan is nothing short of gender apartheid.

“We remain of the view that a co-ordinated international response by the cricketing community is the appropriate way forward.

“We urge our international partners to stand together and demonstrate through our actions that we support the women and girls of Afghanistan.”

‘You can’t deny us anymore’

It’s a complex situation. The Afghan men’s team has brought great pride to many in their country. Some feel it isn’t right that they are punished and banned from playing because women have few rights.

Afghan cricketer Roya Samim is currently in exile in Canada and agrees that boycotting the games isn’t the answer.

“I want my rights but I just think there’s a lot of ways to have this. I must add that I say it is my right and all worlds can give it to me in a different way, but it is not the right way to have to take it something from the men or someone else and give it to me.”

But Arzo Parsi disagrees and will continue to campaign for a boycott with further protests planned in the lead up to England’s match on the 26th of February.

“You can’t deny us anymore. And we will be there to make sure that the recognition of gender apartheid happens at any price and in my living time. Because I have got a daughter and like my daughter, there are millions of other girls in a very, very bad situation.”

The tournament is now under way. But the ongoing issue of women’s rights in Afghanistan and pressure on the cricketing authorities to abide by their own rules is far from over.