Cricket Ireland prepares security for Afghanistan ODIs amid protest concerns

Cricket Ireland announced that comprehensive security protocols are in place for the five-match one-day international series against Afghanistan, scheduled for early and mid-August at Bready and Stormont. The association has been working with the Police Service of Northern Ireland to devise a proportionate policing strategy that safeguards all participants while allowing lawful demonstrations. The series has drawn criticism because of the Taliban’s severe curtailment of women’s rights in Afghanistan, prompting calls that the games should not be used for propaganda.

Amnesty International’s Felix Jakens urged police and organizers to fully protect protest rights and to keep the issue of Afghan women in the public eye. The Women’s Resource & Development Agency also questioned the morality of hosting the matches, given the ongoing gender oppression in Afghanistan. Cricket Ireland’s chief executive Sarah Keane acknowledged a “moral discomfort” but affirmed that security and safety remain priorities.