Afghan refugee women cricketers are returning to the international arena after years of exile.

Sports - After years of forced absence from official competitions, the Afghan refugee women cricket team has set off for Britain with renewed hope; a trip that many consider to be more than just a sports tour and a symbol of the resilience of women who, despite immigration and deprivation, did not give up sports.

This team consists of players who, before the political upheavals in Afghanistan, were professionally active under the umbrella of the Afghanistan Cricket Board; but with the return of the Taliban and the restriction of women's presence in social and sports arenas, they were forced to leave the country and start a new life in exile.

Now, after years of uncertainty, these players have found the opportunity to once again enter the international cricket arena in the form of an official program. The England and Wales Cricket Board has announced that the program will begin on June 22 and will include Twenty20 matches, specialized training and support programs to rebuild the professional path of these athletes.

Members of this team are also scheduled to be present during the Women’s Twenty20 Cricket World Cup final at the historic Lord’s Stadium in London; an event that is considered one of the most important international women’s cricket competitions and the presence of Afghan players in it has received widespread media and sports coverage.

British sports officials say that hosting this team is not just a sports program, but a clear message in support of women’s right to participate in sports and society. They believe that this tour can pave the way for these athletes to gradually return to the official structure of world cricket.

Most of the members of this team have settled in Australia after leaving Afghanistan and have tried to maintain their fitness by participating in local and unofficial competitions over the past years; However, they have still been denied participation in official international competitions.

Meanwhile, a number of these players had previously asked the International Cricket Council to pave the way for the official formation of an Afghan refugee team; a request that is still being discussed at the level of sports and legal institutions around the world.

For many, the return of these women to the international stage is not just sports news; it is a story of resistance, migration and the struggle to keep dreams alive.

Kabul Times News | 2026-05-22
Report; Shahbanu Noori