ICC Announces Special Fund to Support Exiled Afghan Women Cricketers

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the creation of a special fund to support exiled Afghan women cricketers. The initiative will receive financial contributions from the cricket boards of India (BCCI), England (ECB), and Australia (CA). The ICC has clarified that the fund will not impact the annual allocation given to the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB).

An ICC spokesperson stated, “This assistance will be managed through a separate fund, and the ACB will continue to receive its full allocated funding.”

Since the Taliban's return to power in 2021, women’s cricket activities have been suspended in Afghanistan. The ACB remains the only full ICC member without a women's national team.

The decision to establish the fund was made during the ICC board meeting held in Zimbabwe last week. However, this move does not represent official recognition of any national women’s team, nor does it directly facilitate the formation of one. Instead, the focus is on creating opportunities for Afghan women to play and receive educational support.

The program will not only support the 19 Afghan women cricketers currently residing in Australia but also include former players scattered across the globe. The list of eligible players will be provided by ‘Pitch Our Future,’ an organization that has already hosted an exhibition match in Melbourne.

The ICC also plans to form a task force to schedule training camps and exhibition matches. Additionally, there are longer-term goals such as preparing for participation in events like the 2025 Women’s Cricket World Cup.

It’s worth noting that the BCCI alone contributes over 38.5% of the ICC’s annual revenue, and collectively, the three contributing boards account for more than 51%.