Islamabad, 16 April 2025: ICC has taken a significant step toward supporting Afghan women cricketers who were sidelined following the Taliban’s return to power.
A new initiative, discussed during recent ICC board meetings, could soon benefit the 25 women who were first contracted by the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) in 2020.
Of those players, 19 are currently based in Australia and are being assisted by a group called Pitch Our Future.
The organisation is working with the ICC to create a funding and high-performance programme designed specifically for these athletes.
Plans include not just cricket training but also educational and life-skills development.
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A full list of the players, including those now living in the UK and Canada, is expected to be submitted to the ICC soon, alongside a detailed development proposal.
Pitch Our Future emerged after an exhibition match in Melbourne earlier this year between an Afghan women’s XI and Cricket Without Borders.
While the ICC has approved the creation of a new task force to move the project forward, media reports suggest the players themselves were unaware of these developments.
Several have reportedly been trying to reach out to the ICC for over two years, requesting recognition as a refugee team—an appeal that has yet to receive a response.
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One of the key challenges has been the ICC’s structural limitations, as only national boards can formally recognise teams.
Since the ACB has neither supported nor opposed the initiative, the ICC has been unable to act independently until now.
The move also comes at a time when cricket prepares to return to the Olympic stage in 2028.
With gender equality a key requirement for Olympic participation, the ICC faces increasing pressure to ensure women’s representation is not neglected.
While this initiative does not yet grant the Afghan women an official international status, it signals a shift toward inclusive support, even if full recognition remains out of reach for now.
