The return of the Taliban to power in Afghanistan in 2021 has effectively barred female participation in sports, including cricket. This dramatic change has severely impacted the Afghanistan women's cricket team, forcing many players to flee the country. Over 20 members of the team have found refuge in Australia, where they continue to pursue their passion for cricket. In response, the team has appealed to the International Cricket Council (ICC) to allow them to compete as a refugee team. The ICC, in turn, has engaged with Afghan government representatives to discuss potential solutions while aiming to leverage cricket as a tool for change in Afghanistan.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has urged the ICC to take decisive action to support the Afghan women's team. They have called for the suspension of Afghanistan's cricket funding until women's cricket is reinstated. England captain Heather Knight has vocalized her support for the Afghan players, emphasizing the necessity for a clear and strong stance from the ICC.
"It needs to come from the ICC and it needs to be a really clear message." – Heather Knight
Despite the challenges, Knight remains hopeful about the role of cricket in bringing about positive change, acknowledging that boycotts may not yield immediate results.
"I know that cricket in Afghanistan has given a huge amount of hope to people in the country and people that have fled the country, so it's not as simple as having a boycott and then things will change because I'm not entirely sure that that's going to be the case." – Heather Knight
Knight has also highlighted the significance of promoting the presence of the Afghan women's team in Australia and celebrating their resilience.
"But I think that by trying to promote the women's team and the fact that there is a women's Afghan team playing here in Australia is a really cool thing, so let's celebrate that as much as we can." – Heather Knight
The ICC has formed a working group to address the issue; however, criticism has arisen due to its all-male composition. The ECB has formally requested that more women be included in this group to ensure diverse perspectives and approaches are considered. In addition, the ECB has stated its position against scheduling bilateral series with Afghanistan, while Australia has already withdrawn from several men's series against them.
Acknowledging the complexities of the situation, Knight expressed her desire to meet some members of the Afghan team during the women's Ashes series in Australia. She emphasized that publicizing the team's achievements and giving them a voice is crucial.
"It's a complex issue but I think as much as we can publicise the fact that the women's team are playing out here, we should give those girls a voice because it's a remarkable story that they're actually here. They managed to get out of an extremely dire situation." – Heather Knight
According to the ECB, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has no control over government policies, which complicates efforts to reinstate women's cricket. Nonetheless, Knight remains committed to advocating for these players, who she believes have been neglected by the international community.
"I think those girls have been forgotten a lot. That is my honest opinion, which is a really sad thing." – Heather Knight
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