Neither England nor Australia schedule bilateral series against Afghanistan, although they fulfil fixtures against them at major international tournaments.
Cricket Ireland chief executive Sarah Keane said shortly after she was appointed earlier this year the decision to host Afghanistan this summer came with some “moral discomfort” given the plight of women in the country.
Female participation in sport has effectively been outlawed since the Tailban returned to power in 2021.
Women have been banned from universities, parks and sports. The Taliban raided the homes of female athletes and many women’s cricketers fled Afghanistan for their safety.
Keane was recently appointed to the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) special taskforce for the Afghan women’s refugee team who are working towards participation in official qualifying events by 2030.
Felix Jakens, a spokesperson for Amnesty International, said the right to protest during the series should be “fully respected by police and organisers alike”.
He also called upon Cricket Ireland, its players and the ICC “to be united in speaking out” on the plight of women in Afghanistan.
“As we’ve seen with other regimes seeking to use sport to launder their image, the Taliban will look to harness this series for propaganda purposes,” Jakens told BBC Sport.
“Cricket Ireland and the ICC should ensure that isn’t allowed to happen.
“The least they can do is ensure the women and girls of Afghanistan are on the minds of audiences watching, and that this series doesn’t become a free propaganda boost for the Taliban.”
The Women’s Resource & Development Agency, a Belfast-based organisation which seeks to advance women’s equality and participation in society, questioned whether the matches should go ahead at all.
“The state of human rights in Afghanistan, and especially the absence of the most fundamental rights of women, should be on everyone’s mind as the men’s team take on Afghanistan’s men’s team in cricket,” it added in a statement.
“There are legitimate questions as to whether Cricket Ireland should allow such an opportunity to a team which represents a state in which women are second-class citizens at best.”
