Afghanistan soccer is on the rise as cricket faces boycott threats

SEOUL -- If proposed boycotts against the Afghanistan men's cricket team in protest of the Taliban's treatment of women go ahead, then soccer is ready to step in to give the nation's sporting fans something to cheer.

Afghanistan's preparations for cricket's prestigious ICC Champions Trophy in February, which features the world's top eight teams, has been overshadowed by calls from leading figures from three opponents not to fulfill their fixtures. Since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, female participation in the sport has been effectively outlawed, but International Cricket Council rules state that members nations must have women teams.