The International Cricket Council (ICC) has decided to provide direct support to displaced women cricketers of Afghanistan, announcing a historic initiative on April 13, 2025. The decision comes after the Taliban imposed a ban on women’s sports after taking over Afghanistan in 2021, which forced many players to leave the country and take refuge in countries like Australia, Canada, and the UK.
Under this bold initiative, the ICC, BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India), ECB (England and Wales Cricket Board) and Cricket Australia (CA) will together provide financial assistance, coaching and a chance to play at the international level to these players. This move will not only promote gender equality in the cricket world but will also keep alive the dreams of women players who have been struggling for years.
This news was prominently shared through a post by ICC Chairman Jay Shah on his social media platform, X (formerly Twitter). Here’s what he published:
I’m proud to announce on behalf of the @ICC a landmark initiative we’ve partnered on with the BCCI, England & Wales Cricket Board and Cricket Australia to assist displaced Afghan women cricketers in both their cricketing and development journeys.
Media release:… pic.twitter.com/Rf3n0ZBy53
— Jay Shah (@JayShah) April 13, 2025
ICC’s plan for Afghan women cricketers: Key points
1. Special task force formed
The ICC has formed a dedicated task force to take care of Afghan women cricketers. Its main objective is to provide training, financial assistance, and mental support to the players living in Australia and other countries. This way they can better coach the players and improve their skills.
2. Financial assistance and funds
As confirmed on ESPN CricInfo website, the ICC will set up a special fund to provide financial assistance to players. However, it is not yet clear whether this fund will come from Afghanistan’s ICC revenue (about $17 million annually) or from other sources. Cricket Australia had already suggested that a part of Afghanistan’s ICC funds be used for women’s cricket.
3. High-Performance Program
Under this initiative, players will be given world-class coaching, match practice, and mentorship. The goal is to make them competitive at the international level.
4. Which players will get the benefit?
The 25 women cricketers contracted by the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) in 2020 will be made the first beneficiaries of this scheme. Of these, 19 players are in Australia, while others are living in Canada, and Britain. So based on the player’s location, the fund and training will be provided!
Taliban rule and the struggle of Afghan women’s cricket
After the Taliban came to power in 2021, a complete ban was imposed on women’s sports in Afghanistan. After this, many women cricketers had to leave the country and go to Australia as refugees. Most of these players are playing club cricket in Canberra and Melbourne.
In July 2024, 17 displaced Afghan women cricketers wrote to the ICC demanding recognition as a refugee team, but they did not receive any response. However, on 30 January 2025, an exhibition match was held in Melbourne, in which “Afghanistan Women’s XI” played against “Cricket Without Borders XI”. This match showed the world that these players want to continue playing cricket under any circumstances.
Pressure on ICC and global response
In the past few years, human rights organizations and cricket boards had questioned the ICC on Afghanistan’s full member status, as according to ICC rules, every full member country is required to have a women’s team. Women’s cricket in Afghanistan came to a complete halt due to the Taliban regime, but no ban was imposed on the ACB.
Cricket Australia (CA) and ECB had constantly demanded the ICC to take steps for Afghan women cricketers. Now this initiative is the result of that pressure.
Way Forward: What Challenges Remain?
Lack of Official Recognition – ICC has not yet granted national team status to these players, as it requires approval from the ACB, which is under the influence of the Taliban.
Source of Funding Not Clear – ICC has not yet disclosed where the funds will come from and how much it will be.
No Action on ACB – ICC has retained Afghanistan’s full membership status even though they are not fulfilling the mandatory condition for women’s cricket.
Conclusion: A Win for Cricket Unity
This initiative by ICC is a big step towards cricket solidarity and women empowerment. However, there are still many questions to be answered. Afghan women cricketers must get full international recognition, and pressure must be put on ACB.
This initiative sends out the message that cricket is not just a sport, but a symbol of hope and freedom. The struggle and fight of Afghan players is an inspiration for players around the world. Now it remains to be seen how successful ICC and other cricket boards make this initiative.
