The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the formation of a dedicated task force to support displaced Afghan women cricketers. In a media release issued Sunday, the ICC confirmed it has partnered with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), and Cricket Australia (CA) to aid Afghan women in their cricket and personal development journeys.
As part of the initiative, “the ICC will establish a dedicated fund to provide direct monetary assistance. The programme also includes a high-performance structure featuring advanced coaching, world-class facilities, and tailored mentorship,” according to the ICC.
ICC Chairman Jay Shah stated: “At the International Cricket Council, we are deeply committed to fostering inclusivity and ensuring every cricketer has the opportunity to shine, regardless of their circumstances.
In collaboration with our valued partners, we are proud to launch this task force and support fund, complemented by a comprehensive high-performance programme, to ensure displaced Afghan women cricketers can continue their journey in the sport.”
According to the ICC, this initiative aims to preserve the sporting careers of Afghan women cricketers and demonstrate cricket’s power as a unifying force.
The initiative comes as many Afghan women cricketers remain in exile, unable to return home or play officially due to the Taliban’s restrictions on women’s sports.
Since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, Afghanistan has had no active women’s cricket team.
Despite early progress and the formation of a national women’s squad in 2020, players were forced into hiding or exile shortly after the regime change.
England and Australia later refused to play against the Afghan men’s team in bilateral series, citing the exclusion of women from cricket as a key reason.
