Rukhsana, a spirited young journalist in Kabul, is summoned to the infamous Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice to face its terrifying minister, Zorak Wahidi. A cricket tournament is announced, with the winning team to travel to Pakistan for training and then represent Afghanistan at an international level.

In reality, the idea is ludicrous. The Taliban will never embrace a game rooted in civility, fairness and equality. And no one in Afghanistan even knows how to play cricket, except Rukhsana. The tournament offers hope - a means of escape for her brother and young cousins. And for Rukhsana, escape is essential - Wahidi wants to marry her, a frightening proposition which will enslave her in his home.

With the help of her cousins, Rukhsana devises an audacious plan that could ensure their freedom. All they have to do is learn to play cricket - and win.

A soaring novel of resilience, strength, hope and tenderness, The Taliban Cricket Club reveals how love can overcome, and outwit, the power of tyrants.

Who knew that in the battle against oppression a woman's greatest weapon would be a cricket ball? A determined young woman's plan to escape from Taliban-ruled Afghanistan (and a cruel Taliban commander who is determined to marry her) depends on the outcome of an unusual cricket match.

About the Author
Timeri N. Murari is an award winning writer, filmmaker, and playwright. Time magazine chose his film, The Square Circle, for its top ten of the year in 1997. His works include the bestselling novel, Taj, which has been translated into over twenty languages. Timeri lives with his wife in his ancestral home in Madras, India.

Reviews
An engaging read and a real page turner * Red *
A wonderful and revealing book * The Sun *
Murari's novel exerts a strong emotional grip as we follow the Taliban's brutality with mounting horror. The result is an unusual mix of tension, farce and profound outrage. * Financial Times *
Cinematic descriptions of war, and the joy of cricket, score highly * Observer *
This book is funny, moving, harrowing, romantic and readable. * TheBookBag.co.uk *
A strange and alluring combination of cricket, the Taliban, and a lively, clever heroine makes this novel unputdownable. * New Books *
A wonderful and heart-warming story of love, family and cricket. * Bookgeeks.co.uk *



Book Information
ISBN 9781743311479
Author Timeri Murari
Format Paperback
Page Count 336
Imprint Allen & Unwin
Publisher Allen & Unwin
Weight(grams) 234g
Dimensions(mm) 198mm * 129mm * 20mm