Displaced women cricketers from Afghanistan, who were forced to flee their country following the Taliban’s return to power, will be provided key engagement opportunities at upcoming global events, the ICC confirmed during its annual conference on Sunday.
The players are set to be involved in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup to be held in India and Sri Lanka later this year, as well as the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup in England.
A decision taken at the previous ICC meeting in Harare led to the formation of a high-powered committee comprising representatives from the BCCI , ECB, and CA – the three most financially powerful cricket boards – to support Afghan women cricketers, many of whom have taken refuge in Australia.
“In line with ICC’s initiative for supporting the displaced women cricketers of Afghan descent, the players will receive key engagement opportunities at ICC events, including the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 and the T20 World Cup next year in England, as well as through high-performance initiatives and domestic playing opportunities,” the ICC stated in a release.
“The initiative is being advanced through a collaborative effort led by the ICC under the supervision of Deputy Chair Mr Imran Khwaja, in collaboration with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), and Cricket Australia (CA),” it further stated.
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Although the ICC release didn’t specify the exact nature of the “engagement opportunities” to be offered during the two World Cups, it is understood that the Afghan women players will have the chance to interact with international cricketers and participate in workshops conducted by elite coaches under the ICC’s umbrella.
As for “domestic opportunities,” details remain unclear, particularly since most of these players currently reside in Australia. One possible approach could involve integrating them into the grassroots levels of the sport, giving them a pathway to play grade cricket in the Australian system.