The Taliban have reportedly begun the process of converting the Helmand Cricket Stadium into an Eidgah mosque.
The Helmand Cricket Stadium is considered one of Afghanistan’s major sports venues, with more than one million dollars spent on its construction.
Many residents of Helmand say the conversion work has started despite the presence of an existing standard Eidgah mosque in Lashkar Gah, the provincial capital. They also argue that large areas of government-owned land are available nearby, making the demolition of the stadium unnecessary.
Local residents say the stadium has played an important role in the growth of cricket and the development of young players in Helmand province.
According to residents, turning the stadium into a mosque reflects a hostile attitude toward cricket and could negatively affect sports in the country, particularly cricket.
The development comes only weeks after the stadium hosted major domestic three-day cricket matches featuring national team members and well-known domestic players. Large numbers of local youth and elders attended the matches daily to watch the games.
