Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ramiz Raja has said that Afghanistan will face pressure from ICC over the possible ban of women’s cricket in the country after the Taliban took control of the government in Kabul.

As per Ramiz, the governing body will ask Afghanistan to clarify its stance on the ban of women’s cricket.

Notably, Ramiz is part of the ICC working group reviewing the state of the game in Afghanistan.

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“Pressure will be put on Afghanistan. I’m sure they will have to decide in the next six months how they deal with the ICC,” Raja told Stumped on the BBC World Service.

According to ICC rules, full member nations must have a national women’s team as well aside from the men’s side.

“Like everybody else, we are giving them time. They are in a difficult situation,” said Raja.

Afghanistan is one of 12 full members of the ICC. Their men’s team participated in the recently held T20 World Cup in UAE and Oman. But the return of Taliban regime has led to the prospect of women being banned to play cricket in Afghanistan.

Last month, Australia cancelled their one-off Test against Afghanistan that was scheduled for the end of November over the uncertainty surrounding women’s cricket in the country.

“It’s a tough one for Afghanistan to answer right now. Things are still in a state of flux in Afghanistan,” said Raja.

“Wait and watch is the policy of the world and that is the policy of the ICC.”

However, Ramiz Raja clarified that Afghanistan will continue to receive funding from the ICC for now.

“It was decided that Afghanistan cricket talent shouldn’t be hurt at all because they have some fabulous players, so all of their funding will continue,” he said.

“Albeit there will be more eyes watching how they spend that money.”

(With PTI inputs)