Afghan Women’s cricket team make historic debut in Melbourne after Taliban’s ban

A group of Afghan women cricketers, now refugees in Australia, played their first match in three years on Saturday at the Junction Oval in Melbourne.

The charity T20 match, which pitted them against Cricket Without Borders XI, marked a crucial step for the team that had been unable to play since fleeing Afghanistan following the Taliban's return to power in 2021.

The game, attended by several dignitaries including Cricket Australia officials and Australian government representatives, was seen as a powerful symbol of resilience. It highlighted the players’ commitment to their sport and their firm belief in their right to pursue activities that have been strictly forbidden under the Taliban's rule.

Speaking after the match, Afghanistan women’s cricket team captain Nahida Sapan described the game as a historic achievement.

"This match is an essential step for Afghan women," Sapan said. "We hope it will lead to greater opportunities in education, sport, and the future. It can open doors for Afghan women in various fields."

The match carried a special significance, as Afghan women have been banned from playing international sports, including cricket, since the Taliban's return to power. With restrictions severely limiting their ability to train and compete, the exhibition game provided an invaluable opportunity for these athletes to showcase their skills despite the considerable challenges they have faced, including displacement and a lack of resources.

The team, which trains in Melbourne and Canberra, has faced difficulties in coming together for matches due to geographical constraints. Nevertheless, their determination to represent Afghanistan on the global stage was evident as they took to the field, many of them playing together for the first time.

Teammate Firooza Amiri, who played alongside Sapan, emphasized the importance of the match in raising awareness for the cause of Afghan women.

"This is a historic moment," Amiri said. "We are looking for a win today. This is our first match together as a team, and we are determined to make it count."

The match was organized by Cricket Australia, Cricket Without Borders, and the Australian government. Australian Federal Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs, Tim Watts, was in attendance and underscored the significance of the event. "The Afghanistan women's cricket team represents resilience and courage in the face of immense adversity," Watts said. "The Australian government remains committed to advocating for women’s rights in Afghanistan, and this event serves as a reminder of the critical need for progress in this area."

Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley also expressed his support, saying the match was just the beginning of what he hopes will be a bright future for the Afghanistan women's cricket team. "This is the first step," Hockley said. "We hope that this match will raise global awareness and inspire further conversations about the rights of Afghan women."

The Australian government has been actively involved in providing humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, contributing over $174 million in support to the country. However, Cricket Australia has chosen not to boycott Afghanistan’s men’s team in ICC events, despite the ongoing humanitarian crisis.

In a related development, the International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor, Karim Khan, revealed that arrest warrants had been requested for two senior Taliban leaders accused of persecuting women and girls. Haibatullah Akhundzada, the Taliban's supreme spiritual leader, and Abdul Hakim Haqqani, the group's chief justice, have been named in the request, with the ICC stating that there are reasonable grounds to believe they bear criminal responsibility for gender-based persecution in Afghanistan.