The Kabul Tribune (KT) — Afghan women’s refugee cricketers have welcomed the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) decision to continue funding the team and create a pathway for it to compete in ICC qualification events by 2030, calling the move a major milestone after years of campaigning for international recognition.
In an interview with ABC News, Afghan cricketer Benafsha
Hashimi said the team’s recent tour of England, during which the players met
King Charles III, marked a remarkable moment in their journey.
“It was a magical day. Who would believe the girl who was
starving for days, whose family had nothing, no money, no power … today she's
meeting the King?” Hashimi said.
Hashimi recalled that in 2021, after the Taliban returned to
power in Afghanistan, her life was at risk simply because she played cricket.
She and many of her teammates fled the country and have since sought
recognition from the international cricket community.
The team first appealed to the ICC in December 2022, urging
the governing body to help preserve Afghan women’s cricket despite the
restrictions imposed by the Taliban. This week, the ICC announced it would
continue financial support for the squad while establishing a pathway for the
team to participate in ICC qualification events by 2030.
Canberra-based player Shafiqa Khan described the
announcement as an emotional breakthrough after years of persistence.
“We can represent our country, we can play together and we
can show the world that Afghan women are talented, they are strong, and they
can follow their passion,” Khan told ABC News.
The ICC said a special task force comprising Cricket
Australia, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), and the Board of Control
for Cricket in India (BCCI) will oversee the players’ development. The initiative
aims to provide structured coaching, stronger competitive opportunities, and a
long-term high-performance pathway.
Cricket Australia Chief Executive Todd Greenberg said the
program is intended to ensure the team’s long-term sustainability, with ambitions
extending to the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games, where cricket is expected to
remain on the Olympic program following its return at the 2028 Los Angeles
Olympics.
The team remains unrecognized by the Taliban-controlled
Afghanistan Cricket Board, a situation that has previously complicated efforts
by the ICC to formally integrate the players into international competition.
ECB Deputy Chief Executive Clare Connor described the ICC’s
decision as “an excellent outcome,” noting that the players had spent years
pressing the governing body for a solution after their initial appeal received
no response.
Following an exhibition match in Melbourne in 2025, the
players attracted widespread international attention, strengthening calls for
official recognition. Greenberg praised the team’s resilience, describing the
players as “nothing short of phenomenal” and commending their determination
despite the hardships they have endured.
The ICC said its renewed Afghanistan women’s cricket
initiative will continue to provide financial support while expanding coaching,
high-performance training, and competitive opportunities under the supervision
of an independent task force.
Despite years of uncertainty, Khan said the players remain
committed to pursuing their dream of representing Afghanistan on the
international stage.
“It’s been a long journey with many challenges, but the most
important point is that we didn’t give up,” she said.
