Taliban ban broadcast of IPL 2021 in Afghanistan due to female audience presence.

IPL 2021 broadcast banned in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan due to female audience presence

By Nidhi Agarwal

September 21-2021

The Taliban has banned the broadcast of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 in Afghanistan over the presence of female audience and spectators in stadiums.

HIGHLIGHTS

Taliban has banned the broadcast of IPL 2021 broadcast in Afghanistan

Taliban banned IPL broadcast over presence of female spectators in stadiums

The second phase of IPL 2021 is underway in the United Arab Emirates (UAE)

The Taliban has warned the Afghanistan media outlets to not broadcast the UAE leg of Indian Cricket League (IPL) 2021 due to the presence of female audiences and spectators in stadiums.

"Ridiculous: Taliban have banned the broadcasting of Indian Premier League (IPL) in Afghanistan. Taliban have warned that Afghan media outlets should not broadcast the Indian Cricket League due to girls dancing and the presence of the female audience and spectators in stadiums," Afghanistan journalist, Fawad Aman, said in a tweet.

The Taliban, in another diktat that runs counter to its promise of being a moderate face, has banned the broadcasting of the Indian Premier League (IPL) - the most lucrative and important cricket tournament in the world -in Afghanistan.

It has warned Afghan media outlets against broadcasting the IPL, citing the dancing involved and the presence of women spectators in stadiums.

Earlier on Monday, a group of people entered the ACB office and ordered that the incumbent CEO Hamid Shinwari be replaced. A new CEO, Naseebullah Khan, has been appointed in Shinwari's place.

Afghanistan cricket has been witnessing changes in the team structure as well. Rashid Khan, who was appointed as Afghanistan captain for the upcoming T20 World Cup, stepped down from his position after not being included in the selection meeting for the marquee event. 

Moreover, Cricket Australia (CA) has threatened to cancel the one-off Test against Afghanistan in November if women are not allowed to play cricket in the country. 

IPL 2021 resumed in the UAE from September 19 with defending champions Mumbai Indians taking on 3-time champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK). The knockout stage will kick off on October 10 and the final is slated to be held on October 15.