Afghanistan cricket: International Criminal Court debates country’s position on women’s side in continued exile

Cricket chiefs will discuss Afghanistan’s international status next week as the women’s team continues in exile.

As a full member of the International Cricket Council (ICC), Afghanistan should have a women’s side.

The ICC board meeting will be held on Monday in Dubai.

Members of the Afghan women’s team say they still haven’t contacted the sport’s leaders, even though previous support requests.

They wrote to the ICC in December, but the global governing body has said it is a matter for the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB).

“I don’t understand why they don’t want to talk to us, we have our right to know about the future of our team,” 18-year-old player Firooza Afghan said. BBC Stumped podcast.

The players hope the ICC will take action to allow them to represent Afghanistan from their base in Australia.

“For the first time, it is possible that they will make a fair decision for us because we have our right to play for our country,” Afghan added.

– It doesn’t matter where we live, the most important thing is that we are still fighting to get the team here.

“Cricket is very important to me. I grew up with it and I hope one day I can play in Afghanistan.”

Afghanistan recently celebrated his 18th birthday with friends and family in Australia.

“My family loves Melbourne because it’s a beautiful city and we chose it because of the Melbourne Cricket Ground,” he said.

“When I was in Afghanistan I always said that one day I would go to Melbourne to watch the MCG and I’ve finally done it.”

What is the background?

The growth of cricket in the country helped Afghanistan become a full member of the ICC in 2017, which called for a national women’s team.

However, it was not until November 2020 that 25 female cricketers were given a centralized contract.

In 2021, the ACB received a $37 million ($30.6 million) ICC grant to invest in the development of the men’s and women’s game.

The women were paid for the first six months of the contracts, but after the Taliban came to power, they no longer received compensation.

Since coming to power, the Taliban has banned women from universities, parks and sports, and has raided the homes of female athletes.

In January, Australia withdrew from the men’s one-day series Against Afghanistan because of the Taliban’s restrictions on women and girls.

Afghanistan men’s star Rashid Khan considered pulling out of Australia’s Big Bash League as a result, but the women’s team supported a boycott.

“When we don’t have the right to play, I don’t think you should either,” Afghan told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

In November 2021, ICC chairman Greg Barclay said the government was “committed” to supporting Afghanistan “to develop both men’s and women’s cricket”.

He added: “Cricket is fortunate to be able to influence positive change in Afghanistan with the men’s national team, a source of great pride and unity in a country with a young population that has seen more upheaval and change than most.”