Boundaries Beyond the Field: What Cricket Means for Afghan Children

In the shadow of a war-torn land, where bomb craters and sandstorms decorate the landscape, a different kind of rhythm plays out. The sound of bat meeting ball rings clear, laughter pierces the dry air, and barefoot children sprint with pure determination. For these young players, cricket is not just a game—it’s a lifeline, a school, a family, and a dream rolled into one.

Afghanistan, a nation where survival is often the only goal of the day, has long been associated with resilience. But on dusty pitches and makeshift grounds, children are quietly crafting their own form of resistance. Cricket, for them, is not only a pastime but also a means to carve out a semblance of normalcy in an unpredictable world.

Cricket as an Escape

In Afghanistan, it is estimated that over 1.5 million children play cricket in some form, from the backstreets of Kabul to barren fields in rural provinces. Despite the lack of resources, cricket has become a unifying sport in a deeply fractured society. For children, it’s an escape from their harsh realities, offering moments of joy and belonging.

But this joy stands in stark contrast to the grim reality faced by nearly one in four Afghan children, who are engaged in child labor. According to UNICEF, over 2 million Afghan children work in hazardous jobs such as brick kilns, street vending, and farming, often sacrificing education and play to support their families. For these children, the sight of a cricket match offers a fleeting moment of solace—a glimpse of a childhood they are denied.

In the alleys of Kabul, the dusty streets of Khost, and the rural villages of Nangrahar, children transform whatever they can find into cricket equipment. A stick becomes a bat, a tin can morphs into stumps, and an old tennis ball suffices for bowling. Amid these humble setups, they enact their dreams, shouting out the names of Afghan cricketing icons like Rashid Khan or Mohammad Nabi, cricketers who rose from similar circumstances to achieve global fame.

“Every time I hit the ball, it feels like I’m flying,” says 12-year-old Farid, who plays cricket daily in a barren field outside Khost city. “Cricket is the only time I feel free.”

A Space for Learning

Beyond its role as an escape, cricket teaches children essential life skills—discipline, teamwork, leadership, and resilience. In a country where schools are often inaccessible, especially for girls, cricket becomes an informal classroom.

For girls like Fatima, cricket represents something even more profound. Fatima, 13, lives in a conservative village in northern Afghanistan. She plays cricket with her brothers in their backyard because venturing out to play in public remains a distant dream. “Cricket is my way of feeling equal,” she says. “When I hold the bat, I feel as strong as anyone else.”

A Bleak Reality for Afghan Girls

Yet the reality is far grimmer for Afghan girls and women when it comes to cricket. In 2021, Afghanistan’s Taliban regime banned women from playing cricket, deeming it “un-Islamic.” The ban, which sparked international outrage, marked yet another heartbreaking milestone in the systematic exclusion of Afghan women from public life.

Women in Afghanistan are already prohibited from pursuing higher education, barred from most jobs, and confined to their homes under strict rules. The ban on cricket adds another layer to this erasure of women’s presence. Once a symbol of possibility for girls and women, cricket in Afghanistan has now become emblematic of their exclusion.

“No one cares that I dreamed of playing for the Afghan national team one day,” says Zainab, a 12-year-old girl from Kabul who secretly plays cricket with her younger brothers. “They took away my school, my future job, and now they’ve even taken away my cricket.”

The international cricketing community has called for action, with some urging the International Cricket Council (ICC) to sanction Afghanistan’s male cricket team for their government’s refusal to allow women to play.

Cricket as a Shared Identity

Amidst Afghanistan’s ethnic, linguistic, and geographic divides, cricket has emerged as a rare unifying force. On a cricket pitch, children forget their differences—Pashtuns, Hazaras, Tajiks, and Uzbeks share the same teams, cheer for the same runs, and celebrate the same wickets.

“Cricket shows us that we’re not so different,” says Ahmad, a 14-year-old who plays in a small league organized in Bamiyan. “It doesn’t matter where you’re from when you’re on the field. What matters is how you play.”

This unity transcends the pitch as well. When Afghanistan’s national team takes on the world stage, children across the country gather around TVs, radios, or even mobile phones to cheer for their team. In those moments, the divisions seem to melt away, replaced by a shared pride that few other institutions in the country can inspire.

A Dream Bigger Than the Game

For many Afghan children, cricket is also a pathway to something greater—a future beyond poverty and conflict. The stories of national players who rose from refugee camps to international stardom fuel these dreams.

“Cricket gives us hope,” says 15-year-old Haroon, who plays with his friends on the outskirts of Kabul. “If Rashid Khan can make it, why can’t we?”

But these dreams face significant hurdles. Cricket in Afghanistan lacks proper infrastructure, and children often play in unsafe or unsuitable conditions. Many young players do not have access to proper equipment or coaching. For girls, the barriers are even greater, as Taliban-imposed restrictions and limited resources severely hinder their aspirations.

Calls for Boycott of Afghanistan Cricket Matches Over Women’s Rights

There have been recent calls for England, Australia, and South Africa to boycott matches against Afghanistan’s cricket team in the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy. These appeals are in response to the Taliban’s oppressive policies towards women since regaining power in August 2021, particularly the prohibition of women’s participation in sports.

In the UK, over 160 politicians, including figures like Jeremy Corbyn and Nigel Farage, have signed a letter urging the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to refuse to play Afghanistan. They argue that participating would implicitly endorse the Taliban’s gender apartheid. The ECB has expressed strong condemnation of the Taliban’s treatment of women but prefers a unified, international approach rather than unilateral action.

Similarly, South Africa’s Sports Minister, Gayton McKenzie, has called for a boycott, comparing the Taliban’s treatment of women to apartheid. He urges Cricket South Africa to reconsider playing against Afghanistan, emphasizing the moral imperative to stand against such discrimination.

Cricket Australia has previously postponed bilateral series against Afghanistan due to concerns over women’s rights but has faced criticism for participating in ICC tournaments involving Afghanistan. Chairman Mike Baird defended their stance, stating they are taking a position where they believe it’s appropriate.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) requires member nations to have women’s teams, yet Afghanistan’s men’s team continues to compete despite the Taliban’s bans. This situation has led to increased pressure on the ICC to enforce its regulations and for member nations to take a collective stand.

The History of Afghan Cricket

Cricket’s roots in Afghanistan date back to the late 19th century, likely introduced by British officers during the colonial era. However, it wasn’t until the 1990s, amid the backdrop of war, that the sport began to gain traction among Afghan youth. The game became a means of both entertainment and resistance during the years of conflict, with makeshift cricket matches held in refugee camps in Pakistan. The sport helped foster a sense of community and unity among children displaced by war.

In 2001, after the fall of the Taliban regime, Afghanistan’s cricket scene began to flourish. The country’s national team first competed in international competitions in the mid-2000s, and by 2018, Afghanistan earned full membership with the International Cricket Council (ICC), solidifying its place in world cricket.

Afghanistan’s rise in cricket has been a symbol of the country’s resilience, with figures like Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi becoming global icons. For many, their success proves that even in the face of hardship, dreams can be realized.

The History of Afghanistan Women’s National Cricket Team

The Afghanistan women’s national cricket team, representing Afghanistan in international women’s cricket, has faced a turbulent journey marked by resilience and challenges. Established in 2010, the team was formed to compete in international cricket, though its existence was fraught with opposition from various factions in Afghanistan who opposed women’s participation in sports.

Formation and Early Struggles (2010–2014)

The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) created the women’s team in 2010, aiming to give Afghan women a platform in the cricketing world. However, the team faced significant hurdles from the start. Although they had been scheduled to participate in the 2011 ACC Women’s Twenty20 Championship in Kuwait, they were forced to withdraw before traveling due to opposition from elements within Afghanistan who rejected the idea of women competing in sports.

Despite these challenges, the team made a mark in 2012 by participating in a six-team tournament held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. There, they defied the odds to emerge as champions, winning four of their five matches and tying one, showcasing their potential and spirit despite the societal constraints they faced back home.

Attempts at Revival and Setbacks (2020–2021)

After years of stagnation, the Afghanistan women’s national team saw a renewed effort in 2020. The Afghanistan Cricket Board took steps to revitalize the team by awarding central contracts to 25 players, a move aimed at giving the players the resources and support needed to compete at the international level. In addition, a national team trial camp was held in Kabul to select the best players from across the country.

This effort came at a crucial time for women’s cricket, as the International Cricket Council (ICC) granted all full member women’s teams, including Afghanistan, permanent Test and One Day International (ODI) status in April 2021. These developments signaled hope for the future of Afghan women cricketers, with prospects of competing in ICC tournaments on the horizon.

The Impact of the Taliban’s Return (August 2021–Present)

The political landscape in Afghanistan dramatically shifted with the Taliban’s offensive in 2021. When the Taliban captured Kabul in August 2021, the fate of the Afghanistan women’s national cricket team hung in the balance. Amid the escalating conflict, concerns grew about the safety of the women players, many of whom feared retaliation and violence for their involvement in cricket.

By the end of August 2021, it became clear that the Taliban’s stance on women’s sports was unequivocal—the team’s future was in jeopardy. Some players, including Roya Samim and her sisters, sought refuge in Canada, while others remained trapped in Afghanistan, unable to receive the support they desperately needed from the International Cricket Council (ICC) or the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB). One player was even threatened with death by the Taliban for attempting to play cricket again.

Despite some initial confusion from ACB officials, the Taliban’s ban on women’s sports meant that the women’s cricket team was effectively disbanded. ACB’s chairman, Azizullah Fazli, later stated that although the women’s cricket team would no longer be active under the new regime, the ACB was committed to the continuation of men’s cricket.

Exile and Advocacy for a Refugee Team (2021–2025)

In the wake of the Taliban’s return, many players went into hiding, while others, such as those who had found refuge in Australia, began advocating for a future for Afghanistan’s women cricketers. As of April 2023, most of the former national team players were reunited in Australia, where they continued their efforts to form a refugee women’s cricket team.

Their journey and advocacy for women’s rights in Afghanistan continue to draw international attention, as they seek support to re-establish their place in the cricketing world.

Tournament History

Despite their tumultuous history, the Afghanistan women’s cricket team achieved success in their early years. In 2012, they won the Tajikistan Women’s Tournament held in Dushanbe, showcasing their potential on the international stage. However, the rise of the Taliban left the team unable to participate in further international events, casting a shadow over the team’s promising future.

Conclusion: The Spirit of Play

As the sun sets over the makeshift cricket grounds of Afghanistan, the children reluctantly pack up their game, their laughter and cheers lingering in the air. For boys, cricket is a window into a brighter future. For girls, it remains a symbol of what is still denied to them.

In a land where futures are often uncertain, cricket offers Afghan children something priceless: the courage to imagine, the strength to persevere, and the belief that they, too, can break boundaries—both on and off the field.