Hong Kong (AFP)

Australia's international cricketer Tim Paine on Friday said teams could withdraw from next month's World Cup, or boycott the game against Afghanistan, if the Taliban ban women from playing the sport as promised. one of their managers.

The International Cricket Federation (ICC) has yet to decide how to deal with the regime's stance on women, and the Afghan men's team is still scheduled to participate in the event, which runs from October 17 to November 14 in the United Arab Emirates and Oman.

According to ICC rules, nations with observer status must also have an active women's team.

"I don't think women will be allowed to play cricket because women don't need to play cricket," deputy head of the Taliban Culture Commission Ahmadullah Wasiq told Australian broadcaster SBS on Wednesday.

"In cricket, they might be faced with a situation where their face and body will not be covered. Islam does not allow women to be seen that way."

“This is the age of media, there will be photos and videos, and people will watch them. Islam and the Islamic Emirate do not allow women to play cricket or practice this kind of sport where they are exposed "he continued.

Cricket Australia said on Thursday it would have "no choice" but to call off the first test match against Afghanistan in Hobart, Tasmania in November, unless the Taliban back up.

“This is a sport for everyone and we unequivocally support the game for women at all levels,” she added.

Paine said Australian players "fully support" Cricket Australia's position and there could be consequences for the World Cup.

“I don't think we want to be associated with countries that are literally depriving half of their populations of opportunities,” he said.

In a statement posted on the Cricket Australia website, the ICC hinted that they would discuss the matter at their next board meeting, scheduled for November, after the World Cup.

"The ICC has been following developments in Afghanistan and is concerned about recent media reports that women will no longer be allowed to play cricket," the statement said.

The Taliban had said shortly after taking power that the Afghanistan men's team schedule would not be interrupted, leading Cricket Australia to announce earlier this month that it still hoped to host the historic meeting on November 27. .

During their first period in power, the Taliban banned most forms of entertainment - including many sports - and the stadiums served as places of public performance.

Although they promised to apply a less strict version of Islamic law this time around, the transitional government announced a few days ago is mostly made up of ultra-conservative cadres of the generation that had imposed a rigorous regime and brutal between 1996 and 2001 and does not involve any woman.

© 2021 AFP