Human Rights Watch urges ICC to Suspend Afghanistan’s membership over human rights violations

Human Rights Watch (HRW) is calling on the International Cricket Council (ICC) to suspend Afghanistan’s membership and stop the country from participating in international cricket. 

The human rights group sent an email to ICC Chairman Jay Shah on February 3, urging the governing body to take action until women and girls in Afghanistan are allowed to return to education and sports. 

The letter, titled "Suspending the Afghanistan Cricket Board and Implementing a Human Rights Policy," was made public on March 7.

HRW, an independent international non-governmental organization, is known for its research and advocacy on human rights violations worldwide. 

In its letter, HRW addressed the severe restrictions placed on women and girls in Afghanistan since the Taliban took control of the country in 2021.

"We are writing at this time to urge the International Cricket Council (ICC) to suspend Taliban-run Afghanistan from ICC membership, and from participating in international cricket, until women and girls can once again participate in education and sport in the country," the email stated.

The letter went on to emphasize the need for the ICC to adopt a human rights policy aligned with the United Nations‍‍` Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. 

HRW also noted that ICC chair Jay Shah had previously pledged to allocate more resources to women‍‍`s cricket, a commitment made during his tenure. 

"You have pledged ‍‍`to allocate more resources to women‍‍`s cricket‍‍` and ‍‍`champion the ICC‍‍`s mission further by allocating more resources and attention to women‍‍`s cricket‍‍`," the letter said.

However, since the Taliban returned to power, a growing list of policies has restricted women’s freedom in Afghanistan. 

These restrictions have severely limited their ability to participate in education, employment, and sports, violating their basic human rights. 

"Since retaking power in August 2021, the Taliban have imposed a long and growing list of rules and policies that bars women and girls from exercising their fundamental rights, including to freedom of expression and movement, many forms of employment, and education beyond sixth grade," HRW wrote.

"These affect virtually all their rights, including to life, livelihood, shelter, health care, food, and water."

The letter also raised concerns about the ICC’s anti-discrimination policy, which aims to make cricket accessible to everyone, regardless of their background. 

According to HRW, by allowing Afghanistan’s men‍‍`s cricket team to continue receiving financial and logistical support while the women’s team has been sidelined, the ICC is violating its own policy. 

"By not allowing women and girls to play cricket, and not allowing a national team for women and girls to compete internationally, the Afghanistan Cricket Board is failing to abide by this Anti-Discrimination Policy," the letter stated.

Human Rights Watch also pointed out that cricket will be included in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games, but the Taliban‍‍`s ban on women playing the sport directly violates the Olympic Charter’s guarantee that "the practice of sport is a human right."

Before the Taliban took control, the Afghanistan Cricket Board had contracted 25 women players. Most of these players now live in exile in Australia. 

In July 2022, several members of the former Afghanistan women’s national cricket team, no longer recognized by the Taliban-run government, requested the ICC to recognize them as a refugee team. 

Some of these players came together to form an Afghanistan Women‍‍`s XI, which played an exhibition match against a Cricket Without Borders XI in Melbourne this past January.

Around this time, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) faced pressure from British Members of Parliament to boycott England‍‍`s match against Afghanistan in the Champions Trophy. 

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer also called for the ICC to "deliver on their own rules." 

Despite this, England and Australia have opted not to play Afghanistan in bilateral matches but have faced the country in ICC tournaments. 

Richard Gould, the ECB‍‍`s chief executive, has called for a coordinated response from the ICC rather than unilateral action from individual nations.

The issue of banning or boycotting Afghanistan‍‍`s men‍‍`s team remains complicated. 

Some former members of the Afghanistan women’s cricket team, speaking on ESPNcricinfo‍‍`s Powerplay podcast, stated that they did not want to see the men’s team banned, as they believe it offers hope. 

However, they also stressed that more should be done for the women and girls denied the same opportunities.

HRW has asked the ICC to address several key questions. 

The organization wants to know what steps the ICC is taking to develop a human rights policy, why it hasn‍‍`t suspended the Afghanistan Cricket Board from international cricket, and whether the ICC would be willing to recognize the Afghanistan women’s national team in exile, allowing it to train, compete, and receive financial support. 

HRW also asked what actions the ICC is taking to pressure the Afghanistan Cricket Board to include women and girls in cricket competitions and what support the ICC is providing to the ACB.

The letter concluded by urging the ICC to take a stronger stance, similar to other international sporting bodies like the International Olympic Committee (IOC). 

"The International Cricket Council should follow in the steps of other sport governing bodies, such as the International Olympic Committee, by calling on the Taliban to include Afghan women and girls in sport, and committing to a human rights framework," HRW said.

The ICC has yet to comment on the letter from Human Rights Watch.