The Afghanistan women’s cricket team will play a T20 match against Cricket Without Borders XI in Melbourne on January 30. This marks their first game since leaving Afghanistan.
A Historic Match at the Junction Oval
The Afghanistan women’s cricket team, forced to seek refuge in Australia after the Taliban’s ban on women’s sports, will play a T20 match against Cricket Without Borders XI in Melbourne on January 30, 2024.
This significant game will take place at the Junction Oval and coincides with the opening day of the Women’s Ashes pink-ball Test at the MCG.
The exhibition match symbolises resilience and hope for Afghan women cricketers. Cricket Australia chief executive Nick Hockley stated,
“Many people across cricket and the community have come together to provide support for members of the Afghanistan women’s team since their relocation to Australia and this match will be a celebration of that work,” Cricket Australia chief executive Nick Hockley said in a statement on Friday (November 15)
“I’m delighted that their ambition to play together will be achieved in this exhibition match which will be a wonderful addition to the many events around the day-night women’s Ashes Test,” Hockley said.
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Support and a Call for Change
The Australian government and ICC have played crucial roles in facilitating this match. The Afghanistan women’s cricket team, previously contracted, wrote to the ICC earlier this year seeking support to form a refugee team in Australia. Their appeal highlighted aspirations to represent Afghan women globally and inspire those still living under oppressive circumstances.
“Our goals in having a refugee team are to develop and showcase our talent, give hope to the women remaining in Afghanistan, and to draw attention to the challenges women of Afghanistan face,” the letter said. “Like the Afghanistan men’s team, we aim to compete at the highest levels. We want to recruit and train girls and women who love cricket to show the world the talent of Afghan women, and to demonstrate the great victories they can achieve if given a chance through the leadership and financial support of the ICC.”
ICC chief Geoff Aldrice acknowledged the challenges posed by Afghanistan’s current regime, making it difficult for women’s cricket to progress under the Afghanistan Cricket Board.
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