Improving Image

With the swift takeover of Kabul by the Taliban, uncertainty engulfed almost everything. There were questions about sports in Afghanistan. When the Taliban overthrew the regime of President Burhanuddin Rabbani and assumed power in 1996, they imposed a ban on almost all kinds of sporting activities. They termed it as “un-Islamic”. This included cricket, soccer and buzkashi – goat-grabbing. However, as time passed, the Taliban showed some leniency towards sports, especially men's cricket. They gave a green signal to only men’s cricket. In 2001, one year after the ban was lifted on the sport, the Afghanistan national cricket team was formed which was affiliated to the ICC the same year. As for women's cricket and other games such as football, the Taliban remained as strict as ever. They did not allow women to participate in any sports. Because of the Taliban’s capture of Kabul, Afghanistan was banned from participating in the Olympics. It was only one year after the fall of their regime in 2001 that the ban was lifted and Afghanistan was allowed to compete in the Olympic Games.

After 9/11, as the US-led foreign forces drove the Taliban out of power, sports achieved a new life and sporting activities picked up. In 2004, for the first time in the history of the country, two female athletes Fariba Razayee and Rubina Muqim represented Afghanistan in the Olympic Games in Athens --- they could not win any medal though.

Until recently, sports had made great headway, especially cricket. The Afghanistan cricket team, which started from scratch some decades back, has now become a team to reckon with. It has produced cricketers of international stature like Rashid Khan and Muhammad Nabi who have made their way to international T20 franchise leagues such as PSL, BBL and IPL.

As to what will be the situation of sports in the country, it is difficult to say what lies in store. However, iy is clear that their return will hopefully affect the development of sporting activities in a positive way.

It is unfortunate that members of the Kabul Boys Parkour Team had gone into hiding for fear of the Taliban. Jamil Sherzad one of the pioneers and founders of the team said in an interview: “... I have started a campaign through social media... to ask for help from international community to evacuate us from Afghanistan... because it is not a safe place for none of us here”.

Sports in Afghanistan did develop in the absence of the Taliban. Owing to the popularity of cricket among the Afghans, the Afghanistan cricket team especially did very well. It made considerable progress over the last decade and a promising future beckoned to it. The hope is that the Taliban's return will have a good impact on sports development in Afghanistan in general. Their cricket series with Pakistan which was set to be played in Sri Lanka was postponed indefinitely. However, Hamid Shanwari, CEO of the Afghanistan Cricket Board, in an interview has expressed gratitude to the Taliban leaders for generously supporting cricket development in the country. It is being hoped that cricket and other sports will now be allowed to develop without opposition or interference.

The distressing news of footballer Zaki Anwari’s death should not be taken as a case in point. Anwari fell to death from a US aircraft because of his desperate attempt to flee the country. He had clung to the aircraft to escape though all he needed was a little patience. Once the Taliban settle down, they will attend to the question of sports as all nations do. The country has talent in every field and the rulers know that very well.

Women’s sports may be held in contempt by certain anti-Taliban elements but the new regime will find a way out from the ‘Hardline Islamist' treatment of women. It is yet to be seen how they address sports and accept it it as a healthy national activity. Given their repeated assurances of following a somewhat inclusive and liberal policy this time around, let us hope they will be more open-minded towards sports and make efforts to promote it. If they do so, this can help transform their image globally in an important manner.