CA to continue supporting exiled Afghanistan cricketers

Cricket Australia is "working behind the scenes" to support women cricketers from Afghanistan and their bid to form a refugee team.

CA on Tuesday announced a partnership with UNICEF Australia, called Until Every Girl Can Play.

The campaign will feature throughout this summer, headlined by an appeal during the historic day-night women's Ashes Test at the MCG.

The issue hits close to home, with exiled women cricketers from Afghanistan having lived in Australia since the Taliban returned to power in 2021.

After Afghanistan's men's team stunned Australia at this year's T20 World Cup to book a historic semi-final berth, the women used the opportunity to plead their case to the International Cricket Council.

"A profound sadness remains that we, as women, cannot represent our country like the male cricketers," the Afghanistan women cricketers wrote in an open letter.

"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.

"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."

But the plea has fallen on deaf ears at the ICC, with the issue seemingly put in the too-hard basket.

Since the Taliban regained power, CA has refused to play bilateral series against Afghanistan, infuriating men's stars such as Rashid Khan.

Afghanistan can't play at home due to security and political reasons, and most of the men players are based in the UAE and India.

"Certainly over the last three years, they've been extremely well supported by really every level of the cricketing community, from clubs, state associations," CA boss Nick Hockley said on Tuesday when asked about the women cricketers from Afghanistan.

"We've certainly sought support in the background.

"I've had the real privilege to meet and spend some time with the players, and certainly we are working behind the scenes on ways we can continue to support."