Cricket Ireland Chief Executive Officer Sarah Keane has been appointed to the ICC‘s Afghanistan Task Force, strengthening the governing body’s role in shaping the future of the displaced Afghan women’s team as Ireland prepares to face Afghanistan in a five-match ODI series.
Keane’s appointment forms part of the ICC’s expanded task force, which was approved by the ICC Board at its Annual Conference in Edinburgh. She joins Independent Director Dr. Ros Rivaz alongside existing representatives from the BCCI, Cricket Australia and the England and Wales Cricket Board as the group works to oversee the development programme and establish a pathway for the Afghan refugee women’s team to participate in ICC qualification events by 2030.
Cricket Ireland outlines task force role
In a statement to RTÉ Sport, a Cricket Ireland spokesperson said: “Brian MacNeice has been a vocal contributor at the ICC Board regarding the issues with the Afghan women’s team and in line with Cricket Ireland’s board position, this has led to the ICC appointing our CEO, Sarah Keane, to the ICC’s Afghanistan Task Force that is overseeing the support of the displaced Afghan women’s team.”
The spokesperson said Keane’s appointment followed Cricket Ireland’s engagement on the issue at ICC level and reflected the board’s long-standing position on supporting the Afghan women’s programme.
The spokesperson added: “We were able to use our leverage from the position we have taken on this issue to ensure that the funding for the Afghan women’s programme would continue, that the task force works towards ensuring the Afghan women’s team has a clear plan for participating in ICC pathway events and that Sarah will be a key member of the task force making decisions on how to support the Afghan women on an ongoing basis.”
Support shaped by discussions with players
Cricket Ireland said Keane and Chair Brian MacNeice recently met members of the displaced Afghan women’s team and their representatives in London. According to the governing body, the players do not want bilateral men’s cricket to be cancelled, instead hoping the fixtures draw greater attention to women’s rights in Afghanistan and the challenges facing the team.
Following those discussions, Cricket Ireland said its planned invitation for the Afghan women’s side to tour Ireland has been pushed back to either 2027 or 2028.
The spokesperson said: “This is all aligned to the views of the women themselves who we have engaged with directly to understand their perspectives.”
Ireland reiterates its position
Cricket Ireland also reaffirmed its position on the wider issues surrounding women’s rights in Afghanistan while explaining why it continues to fulfil its obligations as an ICC Full Member under an existing reciprocal agreement with Afghanistan.
The spokesperson said: “We firmly believe the suppression of, and continuing degradation of women’s rights in Afghanistan is abhorrent and are actively monitoring the situation and taking the advice of various government and sporting authorities.”
The governing body also said it is continuing to explore additional ways of using the Ireland-Afghanistan series to highlight the challenges facing the displaced Afghan women’s team.
After the opening ODI between Ireland and Afghanistan was abandoned because of rain, the two sides are scheduled to resume the five-match series with the second ODI on Friday.
