ICC Faces Criticism from Malala Yousafzai Over Afghan Athletes
The criticism from Yousafzai and Klaasen's suggestions for reform highlight the complexities and challenges facing the ICC, as it seeks to balance the needs of different stakeholders and provide opportunities for athletes from around the world to compete and thrive.
Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai has criticized FIFA and ICC for not doing enough to support Afghan female athletes in exile, emphasizing the need for swifter action to enable them to compete in sports and defy the Taliban's oppressive rules.
Yousafzai believes that international sports bodies, including the ICC, have a crucial role to play in supporting Afghan female athletes, who have lost opportunities due to delays in action. She points out that the ICC has made pledges to support these athletes, but stresses that more needs to be done to provide them with a platform to resist the Taliban's rules and fight for their rights.
Meanwhile, former South African cricketer Heinrich Klaasen has called for the ICC to scrap bilateral ODIs to declutter the international calendar, allowing for more Test matches and T20 cricket to be played. Klaasen, who has retired from international cricket, also emphasizes the need for national boards to financially support their players to prevent them from chasing wealth in global leagues.
The ICC faces criticism from both Yousafzai and Klaasen, highlighting the need for reform in the cricket calendar and greater support for athletes, particularly those from Afghanistan who are facing significant challenges in pursuing their sporting careers.