Afghanistan Women to play T20 match against Cricket Without Borders XI in January

Since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, women's cricket has been banned in the country. Currently, the Afghanistan Women's Cricket Team is based in Australia, where they have been living as refugees. On January 30, the team will play a T20 match against the Cricket Without Borders XI in Melbourne at the Junction Oval.

This match represents a significant moment for Afghanistan's female cricketers, as it will be their first game since leaving Afghanistan after the Taliban's rise to power. Losing the opportunity to play in their home country, this match is especially meaningful for the players and their supporters.

Nick Hockley, CEO of Cricket Australia, expressed his thoughts on November 15, saying, "There has been an outpouring of support for the Afghanistan women’s team members since their arrival in Australia. This match is not just a game; it is a celebration of unity and support."

After the Taliban took power in 2021, the Australian Government helped provide opportunities for Afghan women cricketers. Since then, the Afghan women’s team has been living in Canberra and Melbourne. Due to the Taliban’s ban on women’s participation in sports, a test match that the Australian men’s team was supposed to play was indefinitely postponed in 2021.

Earlier this year, 17 Afghanistan women cricketers who were centrally contracted sent a letter to the ICC requesting assistance in forming a refugee team in Australia.

The letter stated, "Our purpose as a refugee team is clear: to develop and showcase our talent, to give hope to those still in Afghanistan, and to highlight the struggles faced by Afghan women in recent times."

The letter also added, "Like the men, we are eager to reach the pinnacle of competition. Our goal is to register and train young girls and women who are passionate about cricket so that we can showcase the immense talent of Afghan women and prove that with proper leadership and financial support from the ICC, they can achieve extraordinary success."

ICC Chairman Geoff Allardice acknowledged that it would have been difficult for the Afghanistan Cricket Board to form a women’s team without changes to the country’s governance.