The Afghanistan refugee women's cricket team is set to embark on a tour of England this summer, marking a significant milestone for players displaced following the Taliban's return to power in 2021. The squad, many of whom resettled in Australia after fleeing systemic gender discrimination and the prohibition of women's sport, will play a series of matches across the country.
ECB and MCC Support
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has extended the invitation and is partnering with Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) to provide high-quality training facilities for the team's preparations. Additionally, the players will be guests at the T20 World Cup final at Lord's on July 5.
Clare Connor, ECB deputy chief executive and managing director of England Women, praised the team's resilience. "Since being displaced from Afghanistan in 2021, these players have shown extraordinary resilience in continuing their cricket journeys, in incredibly challenging circumstances," she said. "Cricket has a responsibility to stand for inclusion and opportunity, and we are proud to be hosting this tour and supporting the players in deepening their connection to the game."
Advocacy and Future Steps
Mel Jones, former Australian cricketer and advocate who helped relocate the refugee team, described the tour as "a major step forward, but also highlights how much work remains." Jones added, "These players have shown extraordinary courage and commitment to the game, despite everything that has been taken from them. They deserve more opportunities like this; they deserve to be recognised as part of the global cricket community. Moments like this matter, but we need to see plans for sustained and meaningful action beyond this year."
The tour occurs amid ongoing scrutiny of the International Cricket Council (ICC), which continues to permit Afghanistan's men's team to participate in tournaments despite the absence of a representative women's team, violating membership rules. ECB chief executive Richard Gould wrote to the ICC in January 2025, urging unified action against "the worst violation of women's rights anywhere on earth." While England continues to play Afghanistan in World Cups, they are not currently scheduling any bilateral cricket with the Afghanistan Cricket Board.
