The International Cricket Council (ICC) has strengthened its commitment to Afghan refugee women cricketers by endorsing the continuation of its Development Pathway Programme and setting a target of integrating the side into ICC qualification events by 2030. The decision was ratified during the ICC’s Annual Conference in Edinburgh, where the governing body also reconstituted a Special Task Force to devise a long-term roadmap for the team.
The move marks a major milestone for a group of players whose cricketing dreams were shattered after the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in August 2021. The regime’s restrictions on women’s education and sport effectively dismantled women’s cricket in the country, forcing dozens of players to flee and rebuild their lives in exile. Many eventually found refuge in Australia, while others settled in England and Canada.
The revamped task force includes representatives from the BCCI, Cricket Australia, and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), alongside ICC independent director Dr Ros Rivaz and ICC Chief Executives’ Committee member Sarah Keane. Its mandate is to develop a sustainable high-performance structure that could allow the refugee team to participate in ICC qualification pathways by the end of the decade.
“I am honoured to join the ICC Special Task Force and contribute to this important initiative,” Dr Rivaz said.
“The Task Force has been entrusted with developing a clear and sustainable roadmap that supports the continued development of Afghan refugee women cricketers through structured coaching, meaningful competitive opportunities, and appropriate high-performance pathways.”
FROM TALIBAN RULE TO EXILE
The Afghanistan Cricket Board had awarded contracts to 25 women players in early 2021, but the Taliban takeover later that year abruptly ended organised women’s cricket in the country. Several players were forced into hiding before escaping Afghanistan through dangerous routes.
Australia has played a key role in preserving the team. Cricket Australia helped secure humanitarian visas for many players and their families, while also integrating them into local clubs and training programmes. The refugee side played its first match in exile in Melbourne in January 2025 under the name “Afghan Women’s XI”.
The ICC later established a dedicated support programme in partnership with Cricket Australia, the ECB, and the BCCI, providing funding, coaching, fitness support and opportunities to train in their adopted countries.
ENGLAND’S SUPPORT AND ROAD TO 2030
England has also emerged as a key ally in the revival of Afghan women’s cricket. Over the past year, the ECB has helped organise tours and training camps, allowing the players to reunite and compete together. Tours to India and England have reinforced the players’ belief that international cricket remains within reach.
Afghan refugee cricketer Firooza Afghan talked about the importance of those opportunities.
“Over the past year, the opportunities to come together as a group and tour India and England have provided us some of the most memorable experiences in our lives. The support to train in our home locations with quality coaches plays a big role in our progress,” she said.
“A long-term view of participation in ICC qualification pathways gives us a clear goal to work towards, and we are determined to make the most of every opportunity along that journey.”
For the Afghan players, the ICC’s 2030 target represents far more than a cricketing milestone. It offers hope that, despite displacement and years of uncertainty, they will once again have the opportunity to compete on the international stage.
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