IPL 2021: Broadcasting Of Second-Leg Banned In Afghanistan Under Taliban Regime

The second leg of IPL 2021 won’t be broadcasted in Afghanistan because of the possibility of Anti-Islam content in the cash-rich league.

On Sunday IPL 2021 resumed after it was suspended four and a half months ago due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But unfortunately, the Afghanistan cricket fans were unable to watch the action because the broadcasting of the second leg has been forbidden in the country under the new rule of the Taliban.

Afghanistan national Radio Television will not broadcast IPL matches

According to former Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) media manager M Ibrahim Momand, matches were reportedly banned from broadcasting because of the visuals like girls (cheer-leaders) dancing goes against the strict laws of the new regime in the country.

“Afghanistan national Radio Television 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 attendance of barred hair women in the Stadium by the Islamic Emirates of the Taliban. #CSKvMI,” Momand tweeted. 

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 hair women in the ?️ by Islamic Emirates of the Taliban. #CSKvMI pic.twitter.com/dmPZ3rrKn6

— M.ibrahim Momand (@IbrahimReporter) September 19, 2021

This means the cricket fans in Afghanistan won’t be seeing their star players Mohammad Nabi and Rashid Khan perform for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the second phase of the tournament.

Trouble for Afghanistan men’s team in Test cricket

When it comes to Islamist laws, the Taliban has openly said that they won’t allow women to participate in sporting activities, which indicates that the Afghanistan women’s cricket team is likely to be dissolved.

This could also adversely affect the Afghanistan men cricket team’s participation in Test cricket as according to ICC rules, a Test-playing nation must have a women’s cricket team.

Afghanistan are scheduled to play Australia in a solitary Test match in Hobart at the end of November.

However, Cricket Australia (CA) had threatened to cancel the series if the Afghanistan women’s team is banned from playing international cricket.

Afghanistan men cricket team will also participate in the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 next month in UAE. They are clubbed with India, Pakistan, New Zealand and two more teams determined on qualifications in the ICC qualifiers round.

Also Read: We Will Give You Our Clear Position On How We Will Allow Women To Play Cricket: Afghanistan Cricket Board Chairman Azizullah Fazli