Martina Navratilova makes her frustrations clear with 'evil' Taliban men; calls for boycott of Afghanistan cricket team

Tennis legend Martina Navratilova has condemned the Taliban's oppressive policies against women in Afghanistan. Navratilova labeled Taliban men as "evil" and called for a boycott of the Afghan men's cricket team, highlighting the dire situation faced by the Afghan women under Taliban rule.

Since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in August 2021, the lives of women and girls have been severely impacted. Educational opportunities have been drastically curtailed, with girls banned from attending school beyond the sixth grade.

Women face significant restrictions in the workplace and limited healthcare access, as they are not allowed to see male doctors without a male guardian present.

Navratilova's latest outburst was in response to the reports of a new Taliban decree that prohibits women from working in the carpet weaving industry, which has left many widows and sole breadwinners without a means to support their families.

The Czech-American tennis legend shared a report from Habib Khan, the founder of the non-profit organization Afghan Peace Watch, on X (formerly Twitter), writing:

"Taliban men are evil. I will keep saying it because it’s true. And boycott the damn cricket team!!!!"

A longstanding advocate for gender equality, Navratilova has previously criticized the International Cricket Council (ICC) for its perceived bias against Afghanistan's women's cricket team. She has accused the predominantly male leadership of ignoring the needs of female athletes in favor of their male counterparts.

Under Taliban rule, Afghanistan remains the only ICC full member country without a women's cricket team, as the regime has banned women from participating in international cricket.

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Martina Navratilova condemns Taliban’s ban on Afghan women pursuing medical education

Martina Navratilova speaking during the 2024 Laureus World Sports Awards press conference (Image source: Getty)

Martina Navratilova criticized the Taliban's new restriction that prevents Afghan women from pursuing medical education. The decree was issued in December 2024 by Taliban leader Haibatullah Akhundzada through the Ministry of Public Health.

The 18-time Grand Slam singles champion shared a video on X (formerly Twitter) on December 3, 2024, that showed female students being blocked from entering a medical school by Taliban officials. Navratilova shared her thoughts on the issue, writing:

"The Taliban are evil. All men. All Evil."

In August 2024, Martina Navratilova voiced her disapproval of the 2024 Paris Olympics organizers for disqualifying Afghan breakdancer Manizha Talash, who was part of the Olympic Refugee Team, because she wore a cape with the slogan "Free Afghan Women."