After the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Cricket Australia (CA) and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) the International Cricket Council also took an initiative to support the exiled Afghanistan women cricketers. After the Taliban took charge over Aghanistan in 2021, several women left the country due to restrictions imposed on them.
Firooza Amiri, Nahida Sapan and other cricketers took exile in Australia, where they have played club cricket. Sapan plies her trade for Carnegie while Amiri plays for Dandenong. The ICC will set up a dedicated fund for coaching and monetary assistance, helping the exiled Afghan cricketers take steps in their career.
Afghanistan under the Taliban barred women from studying, cooking, playing sports and other activities. ICC chairman Jay Shah, also a former BCCI president, made the announcement.
“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. In collaboration with our valued partners, 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," Shah said as per an ICC media release.
This initiative reflects our steadfast dedication to cricket’s global growth and its power to inspire unity, resilience, and hope."
Earlier this year, Afghanistan women cricketers played in their first competitive match against a Cricket Without Borders XI at the Junction Oval in Canberra. The match took place before the Day-Night Women's Ashes Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
In 2024, 17 Afghan contracted players wrote to the ICC asking for help to set up a team in Australia. Amiri also urged men's cricketers from Afghanistan to take a stand for the female cricketers as it could help women's cricket flourish in the war-stricken country.