THE ‘CRICKET LOVING’ TALIBAN announced Monday that radio and television channels in Afghanistan will NOT broadcast the ongoing Vivo Indian Premier League. Reason: Due to “possible anti-islam content”.
And what does said anti-Islam content constitute? Apparently, the possibility of dancing girls and women with uncovered hair in attendance at IPL games.
Former Afghanistan Cricket Board media manager and journalist, M Ibrahim Momand confirmed the development on Twitter, posting, “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 (sic) hair women in the ?️ by Islamic Emirates of the Taliban. #CSKvMI”.
The UAE leg of IPL 2021 resumed on Sunday with a power-packed match between Chennai Super Kings (CSK won) and Mumbai Indians (MI), following a prolonged suspension due to COVID-19. This was followed on Monday by a face-off between Kolkata Knights Riders (KKR won) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB).
That the Taliban’s societal mores sourced directly from a medieval nightmare is well documented. And that a similar stance at the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup is only to be expected.
So the only question to be asked really is when will world cricket’s governing body pull its head out of the sand and ban the Afghan cricket team from the T20 World Cup?
