For the first time since their exile, Afghanistan`s women cricketers have participated in a global sporting event, albeit as observers.
Seventeen former contracted Afghan women players traveled to the ACA Stadium in Guwahati on Tuesday. They watched the opening match of the Women`s ODI World Cup 2025 between India and Sri Lanka. This visit was part of a special 12-day initiative organized by the International Cricket Council (ICC), with crucial backing from Cricket Australia (CA), the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
During their program, these athletes also trained at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, led by VVS Laxman. They had the opportunity to meet players from top World Cup teams and even play some matches themselves.
“Most of these players are now settled in Australia, with others in Canada and the UK,” noted Mel Jones, who is involved in the ICC`s initiative, during her commentary. “They`ve truly been put through their paces.”
Jones added, “They are beaming right now. They might have endured a few ice baths recently! Their schedule included fitness tests, match simulations, actual games, and received excellent coaching from the Centre of Excellence staff. This tour was a collaborative effort by the ICC, ECB, BCCI, and Cricket Australia.”
These players do not officially represent Afghanistan, as the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) does not recognize them. Many have joined league structures in Australia after fleeing their home country following the Taliban takeover in 2021. Since then, women`s rights in Afghanistan have severely regressed, with increasing exclusion from public life, education, and public platforms. Consequently, despite having contracted 25 players in 2020, the ACB cannot officially endorse a women`s team.
While not all Afghan women living in Australia could make the trip to India due to visa complications, most participated in an exhibition match in Melbourne in January, playing against Cricket without Borders XI.
Prior to April of this year, these exiled players had received no official communication from the ICC since their displacement four years ago. It was then that the ICC announced a comprehensive support package for Afghan female cricketers in exile. The funding for this initiative, including training camps and tours like the current one, originates from the ICC, BCCI, ECB, and CA, rather than the ACB`s own funds.
The invitation to a World Cup match, a plan finalized at the ICC`s annual conference in July, aimed to provide these players with exposure and an authentic experience of a high-profile women`s international tournament. Their journey was further enriched by the presence of teams from India, New Zealand, England, and Australia at the Centre of Excellence during World Cup warm-ups. New Zealand captain, Sophie Devine, presented them with a symbolic jade necklace.
“It`s beautiful,” remarked Jones. “A jade necklace symbolizes courage and determination, qualities these women have embodied over the past four years and will continue to display in the future.”
She concluded, “The hope is that their future development will mirror that of the Afghan men`s cricket team, enabling them to progress through high-performance programs, establish a team, and ultimately compete in qualifiers for future T20 Women`s World Cups.”
