In a remarkable development for women’s cricket, Afghanistan’s exiled women cricketers will travel to India in October to play matches against domestic teams during the Women’s ODI World Cup. The tour provides these athletes—forced into exile after the Taliban’s return to power in 2021—an invaluable chance to compete on the field while raising awareness about their struggle for recognition and equality.
The players representing Afghanistan are women who fled their homeland after the Taliban seized control in 2021. Since then, women and girls in the country have been barred from education, employment, and sports, erasing the progress made toward gender inclusion in cricket. Many of these athletes resettled in Australiawhere they have continued to campaign for recognition and equal opportunities.
The upcoming India tour marks another important step for these women, who refuse to let political restrictions silence their sporting dreams. According to reports, the cricketers will also be invited to attend World Cup matches during their stay, allowing them to experience the sport’s grandest stage firsthand.
Earlier this year, Afghanistan’s exiled women cricketers played their first match in nearly four years, taking part in an exhibition game in Melbourne against a Cricket Without Borders XI. That historic contest was not just about cricket—it symbolized resilience and defiance in the face of adversity.
During that match, the players wore specially designed blue jerseys featuring a tulip—the national flower of Afghanistan—alongside a cricket ball logo. Notably, the shirts did not carry Afghanistan’s official flag or colours, reflecting the uncertainty over their official recognition.
The India tour will continue this symbolic journey, demonstrating the players’ determination to keep Afghan women’s cricket alive despite being stripped of official backing at home.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has been closely monitoring the situation. In July, during a board meeting in Singapore, the body discussed ways to support displaced Afghan women cricketers. While the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) no longer maintains a women’s program under Taliban restrictions, the ICC has sought avenues to ensure that the athletes still receive opportunities to play.
The 2025 Women’s Cricket World Cup will take place from September 30 to November 2. Matches will be staged in India and Sri Lankawith the world’s best teams battling for supremacy. Against this backdrop, the arrival of Afghanistan’s exiled women adds a powerful layer to the narrative of the tournament, reminding fans that cricket is more than just a game—it can also be a voice for those silenced.
This article was first published at WomenCricket.coma Tezzbuzz company.
