The Kabul Tribune (KT) \u2014 ESPNcricinfo has reported that the
\nInternational Cricket Council (ICC) has outlined a roadmap that could allow an
\nAfghan women’s refugee cricket team to compete in international qualification
\npathways by 2030, although the team would not represent Afghanistan.<\/p>\n
According to the report, the ICC reconstituted a Special
\nTaskforce during its Annual Conference in Edinburgh to oversee the development
\nof the Afghan women’s refugee team. The taskforce includes representatives from
\nthe Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the England and Wales Cricket
\nBoard (ECB), Cricket Australia, ICC independent director Dr. Ros Rivaz, and Cricket
\nIreland CEO Sarah Keane.<\/p>\n
The report said the initiative does not grant the players
\npermission to compete as Afghanistan because they remain without the support of
\nthe Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB), while Taliban restrictions on women’s
\nrights continue to prevent the establishment of a national women’s team.<\/p>\n
According to ESPNcricinfo, many of the players were first
\ncontracted by the ACB in 2020, but plans for Afghanistan’s women’s national
\nteam ended after the Taliban returned to power in August 2021. Most of the
\nplayers later fled Afghanistan and resettled in Australia, while others moved
\nto Canada and the United Kingdom.<\/p>\n
The report said the refugee team played together for the
\nfirst time in January 2025 in Melbourne and has since toured India in 2025 and
\nEngland in 2026 with financial support from the ICC, the BCCI, the ECB, Cricket
\nAustralia, and other partners.<\/p>\n
Under the new roadmap, the ICC taskforce will oversee
\nlong-term support for the team, including coaching, physiotherapy, training
\ncamps, and international fixtures, with the goal of enabling the players to
\nenter ICC qualification pathways by 2030.<\/p>\n
The report quoted Afghan refugee cricketer Nahida Sapan as
\nsaying the program has allowed the players to continue playing cricket and
\nremain connected as a team, while another player, Firooza Afghan, said the
\nICC’s long-term commitment provides the team with a clear objective for the
\nfuture.<\/p>\n
ESPNcricinfo said it has not yet been decided which regional
\nqualification pathway the Afghan women’s refugee team will join.<\/p>\n
\n
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