Local sources in Helmand province say the Taliban have begun demolishing the province’s main public cricket stadium, triggering criticism from residents and sports supporters across Afghanistan.
According to the sources, the Taliban plan to replace the stadium with an Eidgah mosque.
The cricket ground, considered one of the major sports facilities in Afghanistan, had reportedly been built at a cost exceeding one million dollars.
Residents say the destruction of the stadium is unnecessary because a standard Eidgah mosque already exists in Lashkar Gah, the provincial capital, while large areas of government-owned land are also available nearby.
Local people told Nimruztv that the stadium played an important role in the growth of cricket and the training of young athletes in Helmand province.
According to residents, the ground served as one of the province’s most important sports centers and helped several young players advance into professional cricket competitions.
Some local residents and social media users described the conversion of the cricket stadium into a mosque as a “hostile reaction” toward the sport and warned the move could negatively affect the future of cricket in Afghanistan.
In recent days, widespread reactions have emerged online, with many users urging the Taliban to stop destroying sports facilities across the country.
The Taliban have not officially explained why the stadium was selected for conversion into an Eidgah mosque.
