Prime Highlights:
- ICC initiates special scheme to offer assistance to displaced Afghan women cricketers for international competitions and domestic leagues.
- Strategic collaborations with BCCI, ECB, and Cricket Australia designed to offer high-performance pathways and longer-term opportunities.
Key Fact:
- Displaced Afghan women cricketers to represent ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 and T20 World Cup 2026.
- ICC assistance includes coaching, competitive exposure, and integration into domestic national programs.
Key Background
International Cricket Council (ICC) at its Annual Conference in Singapore reiterated its support for the well-being of Afghan women cricketers who had been driven out of their home country by the 2021 Taliban regime coup. The women cricketers, after their home country banned the sport for women, had sought shelter in Australia, the UK, Canada, and Pakistan. Their love of cricket remains undiminished, and the ICC has instituted an appropriately thought-out support system to enable them to resume their sporting life once again.
Started by ICC Deputy Chair Imran Khwaja, the initiative has cricket boards like the BCCI, ECB, and Cricket Australia on board. They will develop personalized development programs from training to mentoring and exposure in tournaments. The plan involves participating in future ICC women’s tournaments and participating in domestic leagues, with ongoing development and exposure for players.
Earlier this year in 2025, the task force and the special fund were established in a bid to offer such players economic and professional assistance. Some of them have already resumed playing the sport, while others even appeared in exhibition games and local leagues—demonstrating their ability and strength.
Whereas these ladies are not yet ready to officially represent Afghanistan, the opportunity is open through the ICC programme. By supporting them in establishing themselves through professional means, the ICC is not just maintaining their right to play but also restoring the promise of the world of inclusive and diverse cricket. The move is strong evidence towards empowering women, cricket diplomacy, and purity for sportspersons on the world stage.
