UN Rights Expert Urges Cricket Ireland to Invite Afghanistan Women’s Team and Recognize Them Officially
Richard Bennett, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, has called on Cricket Ireland to facilitate matches for the Afghanistan women’s cricket team in the country and to support their official recognition.
On Sunday, July 31, Bennett wrote on X that Cricket Ireland could request the International Cricket Council to officially recognize the Afghanistan women’s team. He emphasized that this sports institution has the opportunity to take practical steps in support of gender equality.
According to Bennett, supporting the Afghanistan women’s team would be a step towards defending the rights of Afghan female athletes, who in recent years have faced extensive restrictions.
These remarks come as Cricket Ireland had previously announced that appropriate security measures had been taken for holding one-day international matches between the Irish men’s national team and Afghanistan. Since the Taliban’s return to power, women’s sports activities in Afghanistan have been severely restricted, with the women’s cricket team effectively barred from official participation.
