Cricket loving Taliban approves Afghanistan's first test match since its takeover

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• Sep 2, 2021 | Deleted

Kabul: Terror group Taliban has given the Afghanistan cricket team a green signal to play a one-off Test match against Australia in September. The match is scheduled to be played from November 27 in Hobart.

Confirming the news, Afghanistan Cricket Board, Hamid Shinwari said, "We have got the approval from Taliban to send the team to Australia."

The Test match will be the first that Afghanistan will play after the Taliban takeover on August 15.

The report said the Taliban made it clear that it will not interfere with the Afghan men's national cricket team; however, the fate of the women's cricket team remains unclear.

Deputy head of the Taliban's cultural commission Ahmadullah Wasiq said, "Taliban supported its staging. Therefore, all the previously organized matches will continue without interruption, and the Afghan team can play with other international teams."

"In the future, we want good relationships with all countries. If a good relationship is established, Afghan players can go to Australia and come here."

The three-match ODI series against Pakistan, which was due to get underway in Sri Lanka on Friday, was postponed due to chaos in the war-torn country.

Cricket Australia spokesperson said, "there is a goodwill between CA and the Afghanistan Cricket Board to make the match happen, which immediately follows the ICC T20 World Cup in the UAE in which the Afghanistan cricket team is due to play."

CA will work with the Australian and Tasmanian governments ahead of the Afghanistan team's arrival planned for later this year, added the spokesperson.

Reportedly, the Taliban met with the players and officials from the Afghanistan cricket board last month.

The Taliban said, "We are hopeful that the Afghan National Cricket team, which before brings achievements for the country, will continue the trend in the coming days."

The change in the Taliban has raised hope for the countrymen that sports will continue under the Terror group.

Earlier, under the previous Taliban rule, the terror group had imposed a ban on forms of entertainment, including many sports; moreover, the stadiums were doubled as public execution venues.