Just over two years ago, Firooza Amiri was living her dream as an 18-year-old batter for the Afghanistan women's cricket team. Hailing from the city of Herat, Amiri was primed to take her skills to the international arena. However, the world she knew was upended overnight when the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan on August 15, 2021. Along with her family, she fled to her homeland, first reaching Pakistan and eventually settling in Australia.
In exile but not defeated, Amiri and her 25 teammates are advocating for their right to participate in international cricket. They have urged both the International Cricket Council (ICC) and Afghan cricket authorities to give them an opportunity to play, in spite of the Taliban’s oppressive policies against women in sports and education.
“Yeah, unfortunately two weeks ago was the two-year anniversary of the Taliban and our BLACK DAY,” Amiri conveyed in a message to The Associated Press, emphasizing "BLACK DAY" in capital letters.
The heart-wrenching journey took its toll on these young athletes. Amiri described the harrowing scenes of girls, journalists, and politicians scrambling to leave Afghanistan, the violence, and the chaos. Along with teammate Friba Hotack, who had a similar ordeal, they finally reached Australia where they found a glimmer of hope.
“Our dreams were shattered from the day the Taliban came. Everything — bat, cricket equipment, we burned everything because of the fear. The day we came to Australia, those dreams became alive again,” Amiri shared.
Currently playing in a suburban league in Melbourne, these women cricketers have not given up on their ambitions. Last December, they sent an email to the ICC, questioning the utilization of funds allocated for the women’s cricket program and asking for financial support to be redirected to an organization in Australia.
Amiri revealed that they haven’t yet received any response from the Afghanistan Cricket Board or the ICC. On its part, the ICC stated that the Afghanistan Cricket Board operates autonomously and that the ICC cannot intervene.
Yet, these resilient athletes draw inspiration from Australia's decision to cancel a series against Afghanistan due to the Taliban’s draconian policies on women’s rights. Despite the hurdles, Amiri remains optimistic about the future.
“I would like to say thanks to Australia and all the people who have helped us to live safely,” she says. "We believe that magic will happen one day and we will represent our country on an international ground in the world.”
As they strive for international recognition, these Afghan women cricketers are a symbol of courage, resilience, and an unbreakable spirit. With their eyes on the prize, they're calling for global attention to their plight.
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