Afghan Women's Cricket Team to Make Historic Melbourne Debut

Afghanistan Women's Cricket Team to Play Historic Match in Melbourne

An Afghanistan women's cricket team, composed of refugees now residing in Australia, will make history by playing a match in Melbourne in January. This will be the first time the team has reunited since fleeing their homeland 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, preceding the opening day of the floodlit Women's Ashes Test at the MCG.

The players involved escaped Afghanistan in 2021 when the Taliban seized power and now reside in Canberra and Melbourne. While many play for local cricket clubs, they have been unable to form a representative team until now.

The Australian government has played a crucial role in facilitating the match. "Numerous individuals from the cricket community and beyond have collaborated to support the Afghanistan women's team members since their relocation to Australia," said Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley. "This match will serve as a testament to their efforts."

Earlier this year, 17 players who were contracted to the Afghanistan Cricket Board in 2020 penned a letter to the ICC requesting assistance in establishing a refugee team in Australia. "Our goal is to showcase our talent, inspire women in Afghanistan, and highlight the challenges they face," the letter stated. "We aspire to compete at the highest level, like the Afghanistan men's team."

On Tuesday, CA announced a partnership with UNICEF Australia as part of the foundation's "Until Every Girl Can Play" campaign, which promotes gender equality.

The match will not only be a celebration of the team's resilience but also a symbol of hope for women in Afghanistan. It will demonstrate the power of sport to unite and empower individuals, regardless of their circumstances.

Tags: #AfghanistanCricket, #WomenInSports, #RefugeeTeam, #CricketWithoutBorders, #GenderEquality