The Taliban have reportedly banned the broadcast of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 in Afghanistan over the presence of female audience/spectators in the stadiums in UAE and Oman. Notably, Afghanistan bowler Rashid Khan plays for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the cash rich league.

"Ridiculous: Taliban have banned the broadcasting of Indian Premier League (IPL) in Afghanistan. Taliban have warned that Afghan media outlets should not broadcast the Indian Cricket League due to girls dancing and the presence of female audience and spectators in stadiums," a journalist from Afghanistan shared on social media. Nearly a month after seizing power in the country, the Taliban have been stripping away the fundamental rights of its female citizens, including denying access to work and secondary school education.

The former media manager of the Afghanistan Cricket Board, M Ibrahmin Momand, confirmed the news of the IPL ban as well. His post on Twitter read, "Afghanistan national will not broadcast the @IPL as usual as it was reportedly banned to live the matches resumed tonight due to possible anti-islam contents, girls dancing & the attendence of barred hair women in the stadiums by Islamic Emirates of the Taliban."