Bready cricket club is braced for a pink protest this week as the controversial visit of the Afghanistan team to play Ireland kicks off in the Co. Derry village tomorrow.
Supporters of human rights have called for a boycott of the games, while others are asking spectators to show their support for women in the Taliban–run nation by wearing pink clothing at the five matches.
Former internationals have called for Ireland to stop playing fixtures against the nation where women are second–class citizens and banned from playing any sport.
Paul Stirling taking on Afghanistan for Ireland – the two teams are clashing again this week
ICC membership rules insist on a representative women’s team but the global governing body has turned a blind eye.
Twenty women cricketers were given sanctuary in Australia and are lobbying to be recognised and play internationals.
Thousands of other Afghan women players remain in the country, barred from playing their sport and subject to laws that permit wife beating and refuse females access to second and third level education and healthcare, and bans them from working outside the home.
Afghan women play cricket before the Taliban returned to power and barred them from playing
England and Wales cricket board chief executive Richard Gould wrote to the ICC last year calling for unified action and action on ‘the worst violation of women’s rights anywhere on earth’.
England and Australia refuse to play them unless drawn to play them in tournaments.
Cricket Ireland chief executive Sarah Keane said in March that she felt ‘moral discomfort’ at the decision to invite Afghanistan – which was taken before she took over – but said ‘if we don’t [play] the issue kind of goes away’.
Last month, Keane was appointed to the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) special taskforce for the Afghan women’s refugee team, who hope to participate in official qualifying events by 2030.
Cricket Ireland has repeatedly stated it would use these matches to highlight the issues facing Afghan women and girls but on the eve of the series nothing has yet occurred.
Former international Janice Walsh, who won 15 caps for Ireland between 1987 and 1993, called yesterday for the series to be cancelled.
Cricket Ireland chief executive Sarah Keane said in March that she felt ‘moral discomfort’ at the decision to invite Afghanistan
‘Australia and England refuse to play Afghanistan, and its about time Ireland stood up and refused to play them too.
‘We all sit around and complain about their appalling treatment of their women’s cricket team, and women in general, but it’s time we did something about it.
‘Ireland needs to stand up and be counted.’
The Taliban’s return to power in 2021 saw all women’s sport shut down, including cricket, which had become very popular.
Government official Ahmadullah Wasiq said at the time: ‘I don’t think women will be allowed to play cricket because it is not necessary that women should play cricket.
‘In cricket, they might face a situation where their face and body will not be covered. Islam does not allow women to be seen like this.
‘It is the media era, and there will be photos and videos, and then people watch it. Islam and the Islamic Emirate [Afghanistan] do not allow women to play cricket or play the kind of sports where they get exposed.’
The five–match series, with games in Bready tomorrow and Friday, and three more in Stormont next week, is expected to see protests.
In an interview with the BBC this week, The Women’s Resource & Development Agency, a Belfast organisation whose mission statement calls for ‘a fair and equal society where women are empowered and are a visible force for change and influence in all areas of life’ questioned whether the matches should go ahead at all.
‘The state of human rights in Afghanistan, and especially the absence of the most fundamental rights of women, should be on everyone’s mind as the men’s team take on Afghanistan’s men’s team in cricket.
‘There are legitimate questions as to whether Cricket Ireland should allow such an opportunity to a team which represents a state in which women are second class citizens at best.’
In June, an Amnesty International report revealed that a new ‘Code on Judicial Separation of Spouses’ removes any consent from women to undergo marriage, grants male relatives control over marital arrangements, and reduces avenues to escape abusive unions.
The new code also de facto reduced the age of consent to, in some cases, eight or nine years of age.
Protests are expected when the Afghanistan team take on Ireland in Bready and Stormont
‘The code introduces deeply problematic standards of consent to marriage, including interpreting a girl’s silence after puberty as agreement to marriage. Such standards create an increased risk of coercion and intimidation,’ Amnesty reported.
Afghanistan last played in Ireland in 2022, when there were no protests, although two visiting fans were removed after a pitch invasion at Stormont.
‘Appropriate security measures are in place, and all necessary arrangements have been made to ensure the safety and security of players, supporters, officials and staff,’ Cricket Ireland said in a statement.
The BBC also reported the PSNI as saying it ‘did not comment on operational matters’ but an ‘appropriate and proportionate policing plan’ will be in place to ‘ensure the safety of everyone involved’ should there be protests.
‘The right to freedom of speech and peaceful assembly are fundamental human rights. They are protected in law and allow individuals to engage in peaceful protest.
‘However, these rights are limited by the need to uphold the rights of others, protect public health and safety, minimise disruption to normal life and by the need to prevent and detect crime.
‘If the Police Service identifies potential criminal offences, or unacceptable impact on the rights of others, we will take lawful and proportionate action.’
