'Afghanistan's Participation In The LA Olympics Is Doubtful': ICC

image-lotl65cxAfghanistan men's cricket team (AP Photo)

ICC CEO Geoff Allardice emphasized that the final decision regarding Afghanistan's participation in the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles rests with the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which prioritizes gender equality in sports. 

The IOC, in October, approved the inclusion of T20 cricket for the LA28 Olympics, considering its popularity in Commonwealth nations and among younger audiences. The ICC proposed a six-team format for both male and female competitions, gaining IOC approval. By 2025, the LA'28 and ICC aim to establish a competitive structure and qualifying process for participating teams, reflecting the organizers' commitment to gender equality in Olympic sports.

Despite cricket's inclusion in the Olympics after a century, the absence of an Afghan women's team raises concerns about their involvement, aligning with the organizers' strong emphasis on gender balance in sports.

Allardice clarified the ICC's stance, stating that the decision on Afghanistan's participation falls under the purview of the IOC. While acknowledging the IOC's monitoring of developments in Afghanistan, he affirmed the ICC's support for its member in promoting cricket within the country's government-set rules.

“In terms of the position of the National Olympic Committee of Afghanistan, it's probably something for the IOC to be able to address more accurately than me. But I know that they (IOC) have been following the progress or the developments there. Our position on cricket and supporting our member in Afghanistan is not dissimilar to those of other international sporting organizations,” Geoff Allardice told BBC.


ICC pushing for resumption of Women's cricket in Afghanistan

However, the ICC has been engaged with the Taliban to reinstate women's cricket in Afghanistan, emphasizing their commitment to supporting members.

“The question for the ICC board is do we support our member in their ability to promote cricket within the rules set by the government of the country? And, (the) view is yes,” added Allardice.

However, the operational status of Afghanistan's women's cricket team is currently inactive, with the majority of players relocating abroad after the Taliban seized power in August 2021. Despite this, there is potential for the male team to participate in the 2028 event.

Already, Cricket boards like Cricket Australia (CA), have taken a stance against the Taliban and Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) due to the Taliban's prohibition of women cricketers. CA's decision led to the cancellation of a one-off Test in Perth, highlighting the global cricketing community's concern for gender inclusivity and adherence to human rights principles.