Cricket Australia said on Thursday it would have “no alternative” but to cancel hosting a historic Test match against Afghanistan unless the Taliban backtracks on a reported ban on women playing sport.

The governing body said the first ever men’s Test between the two nations was under serious threat after the deputy head of the Taliban’s cultural commission, Ahmadullah Wasiq, reportedly said women would not play cricket or any other sport under the new regime.

“I don’t think women will be allowed to play cricket because it is not necessary that women should play cricket,” Wasiq told Australian broadcaster SBS on Wednesday.

“In cricket, they might face a situation where their face and body will not be covered. Islam does not allow women to be seen like this.