When India faces Sri Lanka in the opening match of the 2025 Women`s Cricket World Cup, the spotlight will not only be on the players on the field but also on special guests from Afghanistan.
A group of Afghan women cricketers, forced into exile in Australia, will be present at the Assam Cricket Association (ACA) Stadium in Guwahati. This event signifies one of the first concerted efforts to integrate them into international cricket. Although these players cannot officially represent Afghanistan, as they are not recognized by the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB), they actively participate in Australian league structures. At the match, they will attend as honorary spectators, without any formal role.
ACA President Taranga Gogoi confirmed that the details of their visit are being handled by BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia. “He will guide us, and we are awaiting further instructions. The Afghan players will arrive tomorrow, and we will make all necessary arrangements,” Gogoi stated.
Information regarding the Afghan cricketers` trip to the World Cup has been kept largely confidential, with no official announcements from the International Cricket Council (ICC). However, back in April of this year, the ICC confirmed the establishment of a “dedicated task force” to support Afghan female cricketers, aiming to provide them with coaching and mentorship. Funding for this initiative will come from the ICC, as well as the three wealthiest cricket boards – the BCCI, ECB, and CA – though the exact amounts have not been disclosed.
The idea for Afghan women cricketers to travel to the World Cup was finalized at the ICC`s annual conference in July. At that time, a preliminary plan was developed, including a training camp in Bengaluru (where the opening match was initially supposed to be held), matches against Indian domestic teams, and attendance at several World Cup games. As it stands, the players are still expected to participate in some fixtures, but they might only attend the tournament`s opening match, though this information remains unconfirmed.
It is understood that the lack of widespread publicity surrounding the arrival of the Afghan women in India is due to the ICC`s cautious approach, fearing potential retaliation from the Afghan government. Since the Taliban`s takeover in 2021, women have been increasingly excluded from public life; they are forbidden from attending universities and secondary schools, and their voices cannot be heard publicly. Consequently, the ACB is unable to officially ratify a women`s team, despite having contracted 25 players in 2020.
Most of these players reside in Australia, with some others in the United Kingdom and Canada. Not all who live in Australia could make the trip to India due to visa challenges, but many participated in an exhibition match between an Afghanistan XI and a “Cricket Without Borders” team in January.
