Afghanistan and international sport

Double standards

Sir, – I thought it odd to read about the Irish cricket team’s win against Afghanistan (Sport, August 9th). Ireland, apparently keen on the advancement of women’s rights, and Afghanistan, keen to remove access to education for women, among many other heinous gender-based discriminations.

While we can all pat ourselves on the backs for not competing against Russia in sport, how do we reconcile playing a nation like Afghanistan? – Yours, etc,

BLÁTHÍN PEIRCE,

Dublin 6.