Taliban bans cricket coverage on Kandahar radio, AFP reports

Taliban authorities have banned radio stations in the southern province of Kandahar from broadcasting anything related to cricket, two broadcasters and a provincial source told AFP on Sunday.

The provincial Information and Culture Department told stations on Saturday that cricket content was no longer allowed. A department source, who asked not to be named because he was not authorised to speak to the media, confirmed that “cricket coverage is banned”.

What broadcasters were told

The source said the ban covered both commentary and news coverage, and extended to reports of Afghanistan's winning results. He gave AFP no further details.

The head of one local station said: “We received a call from Information and Culture, and we were told that we can’t cover cricket on the radio anymore.” The manager of another Kandahar station confirmed the directive, saying the authorities had said “anything related to cricket is banned for now”.

Both broadcasters spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity for security reasons.

A sport on the rise

Cricket has grown rapidly in Afghanistan, and the government has shown support for it, hosting matches during the August anniversary of its return to power.

The Taliban authorities have restricted some other sports, outlawing mixed martial arts, but have allowed men and boys to keep playing cricket. Women and girls are banned from gyms and from sport more broadly, as part of rules that severely limit their access to public life.

Cricket board yet to respond

Afghanistan's cricket board did not immediately respond to an AFP request for comment on the decision. Kandahar is home to the country's supreme leader.

AFP's report does not say whether the directive applies to television, online platforms or other provinces, or how long it will last beyond the broadcasters' description of it as in force “for now”.

Test match under way

Afghanistan's men are currently playing the second Test against Zimbabwe in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. The report does not say whether the match prompted the decision.