The International Olympic Council (IOC) plays a pivotal role in determining Afghanistan's participation in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, a decision not within the purview of the International Cricket Council (ICC), as clarified by ICC's CEO, Geoff Allardice. This statement comes amidst concerns regarding the status of Afghanistan's female cricket players, who faced exile following the Taliban's return to power in 2021.
In recent developments, the IOC agreed in October to include T20 cricket in the LA28 Olympics, reflecting the sport's growing popularity among Commonwealth nations and younger audiences, as well as its potential to penetrate new markets like the U.S. The ICC's suggestion of a six-team format for both men's and women's competitions was accepted by the IOC.
By 2025, both the LA28 organisers and the ICC are expected to finalize the competitive structure and the criteria for team qualifications. A strong emphasis on gender equality is apparent in the LA28 Olympics, aligning with the event's tradition of featuring both male and female athletes in various sports.
However, the status of Afghanistan's women's cricket team is currently inactive, with a majority of the players, 22 out of 25, having left the country post the Taliban takeover in August 2021. While the men's team may still participate in the 2028 Olympics, the situation for the women's team is dire.
"In terms of the position of the National Olympic Committee of Afghanistan, it's probably something for the IOC to be able to address more accurately than me. But I know that they (IOC) have been following the progress or the developments there. Our position on cricket and supporting our member in Afghanistan is not dissimilar to those of other international sporting organizations," Allardice told BBC.
The IOC has been firm in its stance with the Taliban government, underscoring that a failure to comply with women's sports participation could lead to the suspension of Afghanistan's National Olympic Committee (NOC). As a result, Afghanistan's involvement in the forthcoming 2024 Paris Olympics is in limbo, with a decision from the IOC pending. The future of Afghanistan's athletes in international competitions, particularly the Olympics, remains uncertain amidst these challenging circumstances.
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