Kirsty Coventry, the swimming legend and one of the seven candidates for the presidency of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), raised an important issue regarding the Taliban’s ban on Afghanistan’s women cricketers during a recent meeting with International Cricket Council (ICC) chairman Jay Shah. The discussion took place on the sidelines of India’s Champions Trophy semifinal against Australia in Dubai on Tuesday.
Momentum continues to build around cricket’s inclusion as an @Olympics sport at the @LA2028 Games and beyond, with @JayShah meeting International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach in Lausanne, Switzerland this week. pic.twitter.com/hiySGMGNPg
— ICC (@ICC) January 21, 2025
In the course of their conversation, Coventry highlighted the ongoing efforts to ensure Afghanistan’s women cricketers are given the opportunity to participate in international cricket.
“We also spoke about the important and sensitive issue of the participation of Afghanistan’s women’s cricket team. Recognising the significance of this topic, ICC has proactively established a dedicated task force to engage constructively with the Afghan government,” Coventry shared with The Indian Express.
“Both Jay and I strongly align with the values of fairness, equality, and inclusivity. Together, we remain optimistic and committed to ensuring that Afghan women cricketers soon have the opportunity they deserve: to showcase their talents and passion on the international stage.”
The meeting, described as ‘inspiring and productive’ by Coventry, also covered a number of exciting developments in the world of sports. One of the key topics discussed was cricket’s highly anticipated debut at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. Coventry emphasized the importance of this moment, especially given the growing momentum around cricket’s inclusion in the Olympics.
Very exciting time ahead for Cricket’s involvement in the Olympics movement – a meeting with the @Brisbane_2032 organizing committee in Brisbane, Australia today.@ICC | @Olympics | @CricketAus | @BCCI | #brisbane2032 pic.twitter.com/JVyMbkCYrz
— Jay Shah (@JayShah) December 12, 2024
Beyond cricket’s Olympic inclusion, the meeting also addressed other developments, with Jay Shah reflecting on his recent engagement with IOC President Thomas Bach in Lausanne, Switzerland, earlier this week. This meeting signaled significant progress on the road to cricket’s place in the Olympics and showcased the shared vision between ICC and IOC leaders for the sport’s future.
With the excitement around cricket’s Olympic involvement continuing to build, both Coventry and Shah expressed their optimism for the future of the sport on the global stage, underscoring the shared commitment to the values of fairness, equality, and inclusivity within the broader Olympic movement.
The conversation between Coventry and Shah highlights their strong alignment not only on cricket’s Olympic journey but also on the critical issue of Afghanistan’s women cricketers, a topic that continues to draw global attention.
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Photo Credit: Twitter Profile Photo of @JayShah
