The Taliban Cricket Club

I very much enjoyed The Taliban Cricket Club by Timeri N. Murari which is set in Afghanistan in 1999 when the Taliban were in power.  The main character, Rukhsana, is a journalist no longer able to write freely for the local newspaper and gets her stories out of the country with a hidden fax machine.  She has reported on some horrific Taliban crimes.  She and her brother, Jahan, are summoned to the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice and learn the Minister wants to marry Rukhsana.  At the same time the Minister proposes to show the world Afghanistan is a "civilised" country by applying for associate membership of the ICC.  The Minister announces a cricket competition with the winning team going to Pakistan for further training.  Rukhsana, Jahan and their cousins see this as an opportunity to escape the country.  At college Rukhsana played cricket and she teaches the team, but they must overcome a number of obstacles.  There is a romantic interest for Rukhsana and that is a very dangerous complication.  It is a suspenseful story and provides the reader with an understanding of the fearful life when living under an oppressive regime.  Highly recommended. 5/5