Afghanistan's women look to Australia for sanctuary

Members of the Afghanistan women's cricket team disbanded after the Taliban returned to power three years ago want to reform as a refugee outfit based in Australia.

The men's team reaching the T20 World Cup semi-finals last week - Afghanistan's best result at a global event - has brought fresh scrutiny on the effective ban on women's competitive sport in the country.

As one of a dozen Test playing nations, Afghanistan are mandated to have a women's team but calls for the International Cricket Council to rescind their full membership privileges have been resisted thus far.

Instead, the women cricketers contracted by the Afghanistan Cricket Board the year before the new regime took charge have proposed an alternative in an open letter sent to ICC chair Greg Barclay.

"We, the formerly contracted players of the Afghanistan women's team, are proud and excited by the achievements of Afghanistan at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup and wish to congratulate Rashid Khan and his team on reaching the semi-finals," the letter stated.

"A profound sadness remains that we, as women, cannot represent our country like the male cricketers.

"We are asking the ICC to assist us in setting up a refugee team in Australia. It could be administered by the East Asian Cricket office based at Cricket Australia. Through this team we aim to represent all Afghan women who dream of playing cricket but are unable to in Afghanistan."

Many women who were involved in sport in Afghanistan fled the country upon the Taliban's return, and a sizeable proportion of their former cricketers now live in Australia, where they play for their local clubs.

While accepting the team cannot officially be recognised as an Afghanistan national team, the individuals concerned feel the "unprecedented circumstances" they are faced with can lead to the ICC's help.

"Creating a team of Afghan refugees can give us a chance to play, coach and administer a cricket team without borders," the letter added. "The creation of this team will allow all Afghan women who want to represent their country to come together under one banner.

"Our goals in having a refugee team are to develop and showcase our talent, give hope to the women remaining in Afghanistan, and to draw attention to the challenges women of Afghanistan face.

"Like the Afghanistan men's team are afforded, we aim to compete at the highest levels.

"We want to recruit and train girls and women who love cricket, to show the world the talent of Afghan women and to demonstrate the great victories they can achieve if given a chance through the leadership and financial support of the ICC."