Sun Mar 02 12:58:53 UTC 2025: **Afghan Olympian Faces Death Threats for Boycott Call Against Taliban-Backed Cricket Team**

**Madrid/Delhi, March 2, 2025** – Marzieh Hamidi, a 22-year-old Afghan Olympian and taekwondo champion, is facing death threats after calling for a boycott of the Afghan national cricket team, which is supported by the Taliban regime. Hamidi, who fled Afghanistan in 2021 and now lives under police protection in France, argues that the International Cricket Council (ICC) should uphold its own rules by refusing to recognize cricketing nations without women’s teams and boycotting teams affiliated with the Taliban, citing the regime’s human rights abuses, including a complete ban on women’s participation in sports and education.

Hamidi’s campaign, “Let Us Exist,” has garnered support from some international cricket boards. Cricket Australia cancelled a T20 series with Afghanistan last year due to concerns over the human rights situation, and the English Cricket Board has also called for the ICC to review its recognition of the Afghan team. The UK Prime Minister even urged the ICC to adhere to its own rules regarding women’s cricket participation. Suggestions have been made to recognize the 2020 Afghan women’s team, now refugees in Melbourne. However, ICC President Jay Shah stated that the ICC is reviewing the situation within its legal framework.

Despite the threats, Hamidi remains resolute in her stance. She highlights India’s historical role in supporting the Afghan cricket team, from its inception to providing a home ground in Dehradun, and calls on India to acknowledge the cost of continuing support for a team that, in her view, normalizes a regime guilty of “gender apartheid” and broader human rights violations.

Afghanistan’s cricket captain, Hashmatullah Shahidi, while stating his support for women’s cricket, said the team’s focus remained on the field of play, citing limitations in their influence on broader political matters. Hamidi, however, remains determined in her fight, continuing her training for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics while facing ongoing uncertainty and the constant threat of violence.

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