Afghanistan's women want refugee side in Australia

Afghanistan's exiled women's cricketers have lobbied the ICC to allow them to reform as a refugee side based out of Australia.

Players from Afghanistan's women's side wrote to global authorities this week, following the nation's maiden semi-final appearance at the men's T20 World Cup.

The majority of Afghanistan's women's players are based in Australia, spread out across Premier Cricket clubs in the country.

Afghanistan handed out maiden central contracts for women's cricketers in 2020, a year before the Taliban takeover of the country that effectively banned women's sport.

ICC rules dictate that all Test-playing nations must have a women's side, but global authorities have so far not rescinded Afghanistan's full membership status.

Afghanistan women's players based in Australia have written to ICC chair Greg Barclay, asking for the team to be allowed to reformed as a refugee side.

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

"We are asking the ICC to assist us in setting up a refugee team in Australia.

"It could be administered by the East Asian (Pacific) 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." 

The players conceded the team could not be classed as the official Afghanistan national team, but was hopeful a solution could be allowed.

"Creating a team of Afghan refugees can give us a chance to play, coach and administer a cricket team without borders," the letter continued.

"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."

A similar situation currently exists in international football, where Melbourne Victory has helped support the Afghan Women's Team who play in Women's State League 2.

Cricket Australia was on Tuesday awaiting an ICC response, before determining what role, if any, it could play in the situation.

CA have previously provided support to the Afghan women's players in Australia, and refuse to play the bilateral series against the men's team based on human-rights conditions in the country.

The organisation believe improving the situation in Afghanistan should be a priority, but CEO Nick Hockley has previously called for the return of a women's team.

"We see cricket as a sport for all, and we've said that it's very important for World cricket that Afghanistan puts in place steps to resume its program for women and girls," Hockley said last October. 

"They are on a really excellent track so hopefully, that's something that can happen sooner rather than later."

With PA.