Benafsha Hashimi, a former member of Afghanistan's women's cricket team, is calling on the International Cricket Council (ICC) to recognise the exiled players as the official national side, following FIFA's recent decision to reinstate the Afghan women's football team. Hashimi fled to Australia in 2021 after the Taliban's return to power and now plays for the Afghan Women's XI, a team formed in exile.
In April, FIFA amended its governance regulations to allow displaced Afghan footballers to compete without approval from the Afghanistan Football Federation. The move was celebrated by the cricketers, who have been fighting for similar recognition. 'We want to be recognised, we want to get our rights, we want to play like other teams do,' Hashimi said.
The ICC has provided some support, including a dedicated fund launched last April that offered advanced coaching and facilities. The team also toured India during the Women's World Cup and will travel to England this summer. However, Hashimi expressed uncertainty about the future beyond August, noting that the ICC has not clarified next steps.
Official recognition would mean the world to Hashimi. 'I will achieve what I was fighting for since I was back home,' she said. The Afghanistan Cricket Board retains full ICC membership despite not operating a women's team, a point of frustration for the exiled players.
