Taliban-dominated Afghanistan has banned the broadcast of the the prime T20 competition, Indian Premier League (IPL) in the country over the presence of “female audience and spectators'” in stadiums.
Ever since the Taliban’s takeover of the strife-torn country last month, the international sporting community has been worried about the fundamentalist group’s role on females taking part in sports.
Former Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) media supervisor and journalist M Ibrahim Momand stated that the broadcast of IPL matches became banned because of possible “anti-Islamic” content.
Journalists’ view on this matter
“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 when the IPL action resumed.
Another journalist Fawad Aman, who has also served as the spokesperson of the Ministry of Defence as per his Twitter handle, wrote, “Ridiculous: Taliban have banned the broadcasting of Indian Premier League (IPL) in Afghanistan.” “Taliban have warned that Afghan media outlets should not broadcast the Indian Cricket League due to girls dancing and the presence of female audience and spectators in stadiums.”
Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi and Mujeeb ur Rahman are the top cricketers who are taking part in IPL 2021.
Second phase of IPL resumed in UAE
The second segment of the IPL resumed in the United Arab Emirates on Sunday. The first match was between Chennai Super Kings and defending champions Mumbai Indians.
According to a media report, Afghanistan’s new sports activities leader last week stated that the Taliban will permit four hundred sports activities — however declined to mention anything on women’s participation.
“Please don’t ask more questions about women,” he was quoted as saying.
Taliban’s stand regarding women and sports
During the extremist organization’s regime from 1996 to 2001, women had been banned from playing any sports.
After taking up the control of the country last month, the organization has harassed that women’s rights must be in high regard in the framework of Islam.
The knockout level is scheduled to start on October 10 with the very last slated to be hung on October 15.
