The ICC have pledged their support to Afghanistan's women cricketers, who have been trying to return to cricket away from their homeland.
In a media release on Sunday (April 13), the ICC on Sunday announced “the formation of a dedicated task force” to support the displaced Afghan women cricketers. They joined hands with the BCCI, the ECB, and the CA to assist them in “both their cricketing and personal development journeys”.
As part of the initiative, the ICC will establish a “dedicated fund to provide direct monetary assistance” to ensure that the cricketers have the resources they need to continue pursuing cricket. This will be complemented by a “robust high-performance programme offering advanced coaching, world-class facilities, and tailored mentorship to help them reach their full potential”.
“At the International Cricket Council, we are deeply committed to fostering inclusivity and ensuring every cricketer has the opportunity to shine, regardless of their circumstances,” said ICC chair Jay Shah. “We are proud to launch this task force and support fund, complemented by a comprehensive high-performance programme, to ensure displaced Afghan women cricketers can continue their journey in the sport. This initiative reflects our steadfast dedication to cricket’s global growth and its power to inspire unity, resilience, and hope.”
The release added that “the ICC believes this initiative will not only help preserve the sporting careers of Afghan women cricketers but also reinforce the sport’s role as a unifying force that transcends borders and adversity”.
In the aftermath of the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in 2021, many Afghan female cricketers had to flee the nation, many of them to Australia. Some of them even had to burn their cricketing gear. Mel Jones, Catherine Ordway, and Emma Staples were “instrumental in organising and funding ways for the Afghanistan women’s cricket team to flee their country and safely evacuate to Australia”, and were honoured with the 2025 MCC Spirit of Cricket award.
Some teams – most notably Australia and England – have boycotted bilateral series against Afghanistan Men, but that had little impact on the Taliban. However, there had been steps to get the Afghan female cricketers into the fray. On January 30, 2025, an Afghan Women’s XI faced a Cricketers Without Borders Women XI at the St Kilda Cricket Ground in Melbourne.
The ICC’s recent move should come as a welcome step.
