Afghan’s women cricketers aim to hit rivals for six

KABUL: In a park where men are banned, surrounded by walls topped with barbed wire in a country embroiled in war, a group of Afghan women play a controversial game – cricket.

Afghanistan’s first national women’s cricket team – whose existence would be inconceivable under the hardline Taliban fighting to regain power – are practising for their international debut.

The team, many of whom play in headscarves, will compete against other female sides from across Asia in a Twenty20 tournament in Kuwait in February.

The Taliban, ousted in a US-led invasion in 2001, outlawed all sport for women – and members of the cricket team say they often encounter opposition from traditionalist Afghan men.

But in the park their enthusiasm for the game is high. Loud cheers ring out as a batswoman is caught by a fielder at mid-wicket off the first ball.

Although the team members were only selected in recent weeks, their coach says they are learning fast in spite of the poor security situation, which can make practice difficult.

“Afghans are always very fond of games but unfortunately they have not got the opportunity (to play because) they have domestic problems,” Hajra Sarwar says, taking a break from umpiring the practice session in the women-only park.