Afghanistan Women to get first match since Taliban takeover, to play T20 vs Cricket Without Borders 11 in Australia
Afghanistan's women international cricketers, currently in refuge in Australia, will play a T20 game against Cricket Without Borders 11 at Melbourne's Junction Oval on January 30. This will be their first match together since the Taliban took over Afghanistan in 2021, forcing them to flee their homes.
As feared, the Taliban's conservative policies have put a full stop to women's cricket and many other recreational activities in Afghanistan. This match is being organized with the help of the Australian government, who have previously helped the cricketers settle in Melbourne and Canberra.
"Many people across cricket and the community have come together to provide support for members of the Afghanistan women's team since their relocation to Australia and this match will be a celebration of that work," Cricket Australia chief executive Nick Hockley said in a statement on Friday.
"I'm delighted that their ambition to play together will be achieved in this exhibition match which will be a wonderful addition to the many events around the day-night women's Ashes Test," Hockley added.
The match will coincide with the first day of the pink-ball Women's Ashes Test at the nearby Melbourne Cricket Ground.
"A profound sadness remains" - Afghanistan women cricketers
In July, the contracted women cricketers wrote a letter to then-ICC chairman Greg Barclay asking for the world body's backing of a refugee team.
“A profound sadness remains that we, as women, cannot represent our country like the male cricketers," the letter read. "We are asking the ICC to assist us in setting up a refugee team in Australia. Through this team we aim to represent all Afghan women who dream of playing cricket but are unable to in Afghanistan.”
“The creation of this team will allow all Afghan women who want to represent their country to come together under one banner. Our goals in having a refugee team are to develop and showcase our talent, give hope to the women remaining in Afghanistan, and to draw attention to the challenges women of Afghanistan face," the letter added.
After this letter, CA and New Zealand Cricket (NZC) pressurized ICC to discuss the situation in its annual board meeting on July 21.