Afghan Refugee Cricketers Advocate for Recognition and Women’s Rights in Melbourne Match

On January 30, 2025, the Afghanistan Women’s XI, composed of Afghan refugee cricketers who resettled in Australia after fleeing Taliban rule in 2021, played their first match as a team at Melbourne’s Junction Oval. Facing a side organized by Cricket Without Borders, this exhibition match was facilitated by Cricket Australia but lacked official status. Captain Nahida Sapan expressed hope that the game would inspire Afghan women, emphasizing its potential to open doors for education, sports, and future opportunities. Despite Afghanistan’s men’s team maintaining International Cricket Council (ICC) membership, the women’s team remains unfunded and unrecognized by the ICC. The players have requested recognition as a refugee team but have yet to receive a formal response. Cricket Australia aspires for these women to participate in more exhibition matches and eventually compete internationally.