Afghanistan women’s team gets funding from the International Cricket Council

Afghan women cricketers will get high-level support in a bid to rejoin international competition after the sport’s world governing body created a task force to coordinate direct funding, elite coaching and facilities for displaced players.

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Dozens of players from Afghanistan’s national women’s team relocated to Australia after the Taliban retook control of the country in 2021 and enforced bans on women’s sports. The players have been seeking official support ever since.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) released a statement on Sunday saying it reached an agreement with the sport’s national associations in Australia, India and England to support the displaced Afghan women’s players.

ICC chairman Jay Shah said his organisation is “deeply committed to fostering inclusivity and ensuring every cricketer has the opportunity to shine, regardless of their circumstances”.

“The ICC believes this [support fund] 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,” he said.

England’s men have continued to face Afghanistan in ICC events. Photo: AFP

An Afghanistan Women’s XI played a Cricket Without Borders XI at Melbourne’s Junction Oval in an exhibition match supported by the Australian government in January, bringing together 21 female players who were formerly contracted to the Afghanistan Cricket Board.

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