Taliban Approve Afghanistan’s First Cricket Test Match Since Kabul Takeover

Kabul: The Taliban have approved Afghanistan’s first Test match since their takeover of the country.

“We have got approval to send the team to Australia,” Afghanistan Cricket Board Chief Executive Hamid Shinwari told AFP.

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The move has raised hopes that international matches will continue as usual in Afghanistan under the new rule of the Taliban. There were earlier fears that cricket and other sports would be hit in the country after the Taliban swept into Kabul last month.

The Test match, which will be played in Hobart from November 27-December 1, was scheduled to take place last year.

The match was then postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic and international travel restrictions. It will be Afghanistan’s first Test.

The Afghan cricket team will before the Australia tour feature in the Twenty20 World Cup to be held in the United Arab Emirates from October 17 to November 15.

The Taliban banned most forms of entertainment during their first stint in power and stadiums were then used as public execution venues.

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The Taliban, which took over Kabul in mid-August, have this time promised to enforce a less strict version of Islamic law.