Afghanistan Women’s XI to play in Melbourne ahead of Ashes Test

An Afghan women’s cricket team, made up of refugees now living in Australia, will play a match in Melbourne in January, the first time they have been able to meet as a group since leaving their country following the Taliban takeover.

The T20 match between an Afghanistan women’s XI and a cricket Without Borders XI will take place on January 30 at Junction Oval ahead of the opening day of the floodlit women’s Ashes Test at the MCG.

The players involved fled Afghanistan in 2021 when the Taliban came to power and now live in Canberra and Melbourne. Many play for local cricket clubs but have not been able to form a representative team.

The Australian government has been involved in helping to organize the match.

“Many people from across the cricket world and community have come together to support the members of the Afghanistan women’s team since their move to Australia and this match will be a celebration of that work,” said cricket Australia chief executive Nick Hockley.

“I am delighted that their ambition to play together will be achieved in this exhibition match which will be a wonderful addition to the many events surrounding the Women’s Ashes Day/Night Test.”

Earlier this year, 17 of the players who were signed by the Afghanistan cricket Board in 2020 before the Taliban takeover wrote to the ICC asking for help establishing a refugee team in Australia.

“Our goals in having a refugee team are to develop and showcase our talent, give hope to the women who remain in Afghanistan, and draw attention to the challenges faced by the women of Afghanistan,” the letter said. “Like the Afghanistan men’s team, our goal is to compete at the highest level. We want to recruit and train girls and women who love cricket to show the world the talent of Afghan women and demonstrate the great victories they can achieve if “They are given a chance through the leadership and financial support of the ICC.”