Afghan Women Cricketers Seek International Backing for Refugee Team

A group of Afghan women cricketers has once again appealed to the sport's international governing body for support in establishing a refugee team in Australia. This request came in the wake of the Afghanistan men's team's remarkable achievement of reaching the semifinals of the Twenty20 World Cup in the Caribbean last week.

In 2021, more than two dozen women associated with the Afghanistan Cricket Board sought refuge in Australia following the Taliban's takeover and subsequent ban on women's sports.

Although the group first reached out to the International Cricket Council (ICC) in 2023, they did not receive the necessary support.

While many of these women have continued to play in domestic competitions in Australia, they lack access to international cricket. ICC regulations stipulate that all test-playing members must support both men's and women's national teams.

"A profound sadness remains that we, as women, cannot represent our country like the male cricketers," the women wrote in a letter to ICC chairman Greg Barclay, according to the Australian Associated Press.

The letter urged the ICC to assist in establishing a refugee team in Australia. "Through this team, we aim to represent all Afghan women who dream of playing cricket but are unable to in Afghanistan."

The women emphasized that ICC support for the refugee team would provide Afghan refugees with opportunities to play, coach, and manage the team across borders.

"The creation of this team will allow all Afghan women who want to represent their country to come together under one banner," the letter continued. "Our goals in having a refugee team are to develop and showcase our talent, give hope to the women remaining in Afghanistan, and to draw attention to the challenges women of Afghanistan face."

Cricket Australia has previously supported the Afghan women's players in Australia and has refused to play a bilateral series against the men's team until the gender disparity is addressed.