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ICC Unveils Support Plan for Exiled Afghan Women Cricketers
Forced into exile under Taliban rule, Afghan women cricketers will now get global support through an ICC-led program, offering playing opportunities & inclusion at World Cups.
ND
by News Desk
2025-07-21
ICC Unveils Support Plan for Exiled Afghan Women Cricketers

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has launched a structured support initiative for exiled Afghan women cricketers, many of whom were forced to flee their homeland after the Taliban takeover in 2021 banned women from participating in sports.

The announcement was made during the ICC’s annual conference held over the weekend in Singapore. The program, designed to empower and reconnect Afghan women with the international cricketing community, is a joint effort by the cricket boards of India, England, and Australia, overseen by ICC Deputy Chair Imran Khwaja.

“The programme aims to deliver structured support,” the ICC said in a statement issued Sunday night. The initiative will provide domestic playing opportunities and engagement at major ICC events, including the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 in India and the Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 in England.

While specific details remain limited, reports suggest that the exiled players will be given the opportunity to attend workshops, interact with international players, and participate in coaching clinics during the upcoming tournaments — a critical move to restore both skill development and morale.

Many Afghan women cricketers fled to Australia following the Taliban's resurgence and hosted a symbolic match earlier this year in Melbourne — notably played without their national crest, due to the political sensitivities surrounding their identity.

This initiative marks the ICC's first formal step toward reintegrating Afghan women into the global cricketing framework, despite their country's current political climate. It reflects growing international pressure to preserve women's rights in sport, even in exile.

The ICC’s approach also reflects broader themes of inclusion, resilience, and the safeguarding of opportunity for women who have been denied fundamental rights by oppressive regimes.
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