{
  "id": 20178353,
  "title": "Taliban authorities ban cricket on Kandahar radio",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/15/taliban-authorities-ban-cricket-on-kandahar-radio-20178353",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-11-15T12:22:48.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/world/2026/11/15/taliban-authorities-ban-cricket-on-kandahar-radio"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Taliban authorities in southern Kandahar have prohibited radio stations from broadcasting any content related to cricket, according to two broadcasters and a provincial source. Despite the government's support for the sport, which hosted matches during its anniversary, the provincial information and culture department has now issued a ban on cricket coverage. This directive extends to both commentary and news reports about cricket matches, prohibiting any mention of their winning results. Local radio station managers confirmed receiving instructions from the Information and Culture department, expressing their inability to cover cricket on the airwaves. While the Taliban has banned mixed martial arts, they have permitted cricket, allowing male and adolescent boys to continue playing the sport. However, women and girls are barred from participating in gyms and sports due to strict limitations on their public participation. The men's cricket team is currently engaged in the second Test against Zimbabwe in Sharjah, UAE.",
  "summary": "The government had supported cricket, even hosting matches in August, but has now banned all cricket-related activities and coverage.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "No cricket on the radio: Taliban tells Kandahar stations to drop all coverage",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/15/no-cricket-on-the-radio-taliban-tells-kandahar-stations-to-drop-all",
        "published": "2026-11-15T12:23:34.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Gulf News",
        "title": "Taliban authorities ban cricket on Kandahar radio",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/15/taliban-authorities-ban-cricket-on-kandahar-radio",
        "published": "2026-11-15T12:34:44.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Dawn",
        "title": "Taliban authorities ban cricket content on Kandahar radio",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/15/taliban-authorities-ban-cricket-content-on-kandahar-radio",
        "published": "2026-11-15T12:55:46.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}