Exiled Afghanistan women to tour England during T20 World Cup

Afghanistan 's exiled women's cricketers will tour England next month before joining the crowd at the T20 Women's World Cup final at Lord's.

The Afghan Refugee Women's Team will start their tour on June 22, incorporating training opportunities. T20 matches, hosted by the ECB with support from the MCC and MCC Foundation and sports consultancy It's Game On.

In November 2020, the Afghanistan Cricket Board held a women's cricket trial in Kabul. agreed to contract 25 women's players. But, nine months later, the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan meant women. girls were banned from most areas of public life, including sport.

The majority of the cricketers now live in Australia. while their efforts to be recognised by the ICC as a team in exile have failed, they have since played as an Afghanistan Refugee XI against a Cricket Without Borders side during the 2025 Women's Ashes in Australia, and attended last year's 50-over World Cup in India as spectators.

Despite their displacement, a number of the players have remained committed to playing cricket. this latest trip will give them a chance to compete together as a team while raising awareness of their plight.

Mel Jones, the former Australia player turned commentator, who set up It's Game On with Emma Staples, Cricket Victoria's Head of Diversity,. consultant Dr Catherine Ordway, said the tour was a major step forward, but also highlighted the amount of work yet to be done in supporting displaced and under-represented female athletes.

"These players have shown extraordinary courage. commitment to the game, despite everything that has been taken from them," Jones said. "They deserve more opportunities like this; they deserve to be recognised as part of the global cricket community. Moments like this matter, but we need to see plans for sustained and meaningful action beyond this year."

Clare Connor, ECB Deputy CEO. Managing Director of England Women, said: "Since being displaced from Afghanistan in 2021, these players have shown extraordinary resilience in continuing their cricket journeys, in incredibly challenging circumstances.

"Cricket has a responsibility to stand for inclusion. opportunity, and we are proud to be hosting this tour and supporting the players in deepening their connection to the game."