After three years in exile, Afghanistan’s women cricketers played their first match on Thursday in Australia, marking a significant moment in their struggle for recognition. The charity game in Melbourne brought together players who fled their homeland following the Taliban’s takeover in August 2021, which effectively banned women’s sports and education.
A Game of Hope and Resilience
Captain Nahida Sapan described the match as more than just a game, emphasizing its potential to inspire change. “We are not just rebuilding a team; we are creating a movement for change and opportunity,” she said ahead of the event. “This match has the potential to open doors for Afghan women in sports, education, and beyond.”
Escape and Rebuilding a Team in Exile
The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) had taken a progressive step in November 2020 by awarding professional contracts to 25 female cricketers. However, their aspirations were cut short when the Taliban took control of Kabul, putting an end to women’s cricket in the country.
Since then, 22 of those players have resettled in Australia, primarily in Melbourne and Canberra. Many of them have been advocating for official recognition from the International Cricket Council (ICC), proposing the formation of a refugee team to represent Afghan women worldwide.
Firooza Amiri, one of the players, expressed deep emotions about the reunion. “We’ve never played together as a full team before,” she said. “This match is special because we are representing the millions of Afghan women who are denied their basic rights back home.”
Push for Official Recognition
Despite their efforts, the ICC has yet to respond to the players’ appeals for formal recognition. In a joint letter last year, the team voiced their disappointment, stating, “It is heartbreaking that we, as women, are unable to represent our country like our male counterparts. The formation of an official team would give Afghan women cricketers a platform to come together and compete internationally.”
Support from Australian Cricket Community
The charity match was held at Melbourne’s Junction Oval, a historic venue where cricket legend Shane Warne once played. The Afghan team faced an invitational side from Cricket Without Borders, an organization dedicated to encouraging young women to participate in the sport.
Cricket Australia (CA) has publicly supported the Afghan women’s team, pledging to push for their recognition at the highest levels. CA’s chief executive, Nick Hockley, commended the resilience of the players and the Australian cricket community’s role in supporting them. “I am incredibly proud of everyone who has worked to assist these players since their arrival in Australia,” he said.
In recent years, Australia has refused to play bilateral series against the Afghanistan men’s team, citing human rights concerns. However, Thursday’s match signified a step towards change, not just for Afghan women’s cricket but for the broader fight for women’s rights in sports.
The Afghan women cricketers remain hopeful that their journey will inspire a brighter future for female athletes from their country, proving that no obstacle is insurmountable when passion and perseverance lead the way.
