kabul the taliban confirmed on wednesday that women in afghanistan will not be allowed to play any sports including cricket the move now puts the oneoff mens test match between australia and afghanistan for november in hobart under doubti dont think women will be allowed to play cricket because it is not necessary that women should play cricket in cricket they might face a situation where their face and body will not be covered islam does not allow women to be seen like this it is the media era and there will be photos and videos and then people watch it islam and the islamic emirate do not allow women to play cricket or play the kind of sports where they get exposed said ahmadullah wasiq the deputy head of the talibans cultural commission in an interview to sbs newsin november 2020 twentyfive female cricketers were awarded central contracts by the afghanistan cricket board acb it also held a 21day training camp for 40 female cricketers in kabul the international cricket council icc requires all 12 of its full members to have a national womens team and only full members of the icc are permitted to play test matcheswhen asked if no womens cricket would mean icc calling off the hobart test wasiq said the taliban would not compromise even for this if we face challenges and problems we have fought for our religion so that islam is to be followed we will not cross islamic values even if it carries opposite reactions we will not leave our islamic ruleshe added that islam allowed women to go out on a needs basis such as shopping and that sport is not considered a need in cricket and other sports women will not get an islamic dress code it is obvious that they will get exposed and will not follow the dress code and islam does not allow thataustralias trade minister dan tehan described the decision by the taliban to ban female athletes from playing sports as incredibly incredibly disappointingmost australians would be absolutely abhorred at the idea that girls and omen wouldnt be allowed to play sport this is something that our sporting codes will have to think about and look at very carefully the idea that you would stop females playing sport is something that would go against what every australian would think is the right thing to do said tehan to reporters in canberra on wednesday