In a rare and powerful move, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has stepped forward with a comprehensive support program for exiled Afghan women cricketers—offering not just funding, but something far more valuable: hope.
Nearly four years after the Taliban banned women from playing sports in Afghanistan, dozens of female cricketers who once represented the national setup are finally being acknowledged on the global stage. The ICC, in collaboration with national boards including Cricket Australia, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), and the BCCI, has launched a dedicated task force to support these displaced athletes.
Funding, Coaching, and a Clear Message
This new initiative, announced in April 2025, includes direct financial support, high-performance training facilities, professional coaching, and mentorship opportunities. The goal? To give these women—not just athletes, but symbols of resistance—a fair chance at rebuilding their careers.
“It’s more than money or training,” said Nahida Sapan, a former Afghan player now based in Melbourne. “It’s the first time we feel like someone in cricket is really seeing us, standing with us.”
The emotion runs deep. For many, the journey from Kabul to exile was harrowing, and the silence from cricket authorities over the past years has only added to the pain. This move, though belated, signals a shift in the ICC’s stance—from passive observation to proactive inclusion.
First Match, First Step
In January, the Afghan Women’s XI—a team formed entirely of exiled players—played their first exhibition match at Melbourne’s Junction Oval. Organized with support from Cricket Without Borders and backed by Cricket Australia, the event was symbolic, yet meaningful. They may not be wearing national colors, but for these women, every over bowled and run scored was an act of defiance.
“Watching them take the field again brought tears to our eyes,” said Emma Stapleton, a volunteer coach. “You could feel the weight of everything they’ve gone through in every ball.”
Not Everyone’s Satisfied
While the ICC’s announcement has been widely welcomed, rights groups aren’t letting up. Organizations like Human Rights Watch say the global body must go further and reconsider Afghanistan’s membership status entirely.
“The ACB [Afghanistan Cricket Board] hasn’t just failed to support women’s cricket—it’s erased it,” said HRW’s Minky Worden. “The ICC’s constitution mandates gender equity. So why hasn’t it acted on that until now?”
Australia and England have already made their stance clear—refusing to play bilateral matches against Afghanistan’s men’s team while the Taliban remains in power. Yet, the team continues to participate in ICC events like the upcoming Champions Trophy, raising uncomfortable questions about the limits of sport’s moral compass.
So What Happens Next?
Despite the warm headlines, many details remain in the dark. The ICC hasn’t confirmed how much funding is being allocated or whether the exiled women will be allowed to play official international cricket under a new flag—or any flag at all.
Still, for the players now training across Melbourne, Canberra, and Sydney, the focus is on the now.
“After everything we’ve lost, just being able to pick up a bat and have someone believe in us again… it means the world,” said Sapan.
