Geoff Aldrice, the ICC chief, recently shed light on the hurdles faced by the Afghanistan Cricket Board in advancing women’s cricket within the nation. Speaking at an event for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup in Dhaka, Aldrice highlighted the challenges impeding the formation of a women’s team in Afghanistan.
He expressed concern that without significant changes, the current situation is likely to persist, leaving Afghanistan as the only full member nation without a women’s team.
The absence of a women’s team means the Afghanistan Cricket Board is ineligible to participate in the upcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. This exclusion underscores the pressing need for progress in fostering gender inclusivity within the sport.
Geoff Aldrice emphasized the ICC’s commitment to promoting women’s cricket globally. He outlined plans to expand the number of teams in international tournaments, starting with the next ICC Women’s World Cup, which will feature 10 teams.
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Additionally, discussions are underway to increase the number of teams in future editions of the women’s T20 World Cup, with the aim of furthering inclusivity and providing opportunities for emerging cricketing nations.
The postponement of Cricket Australia’s scheduled T20I series against Afghanistan due to concerns over the Taliban’s stance on women’s rights underscores the gravity of the situation. Despite previous efforts by the Afghanistan Cricket Board to develop women’s cricket, current circumstances present significant barriers to progress.
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Geoff Aldrice advices women for playing cricket to help in development :-
Geoff Aldrice stressed the importance of creating pathways for developing teams to compete on the global stage, citing the ICC Women’s Championship as an example of expanding opportunities for associate member nations. By providing exposure and experience against top-tier opponents, these initiatives aim to promote inclusivity and diversity in cricket.
Geoff Aldrice’s remarks highlight the ongoing challenges faced by the Afghanistan Cricket Board in fostering women’s cricket. However, with the ICC’s commitment to expanding opportunities and promoting inclusivity, there is hope for progress in the future.