Women cricket of Afghanistan may see a revival with a new initiative taken by the International Cricket Council (ICC) which may also pave the way for the cricketers to reinvent their careers.
Major cricket boards, including India (BCCI), England (ECB), and Australia (CA), are joining the ICC to fund a dedicated support program.
Four years ago, the Taliban came to power in Afghanistan and they effectively banned women’s sports in the country, which forced many cricketers to go into exile.
The new plan aims to provide these cricketers, wherever they are located globally, with crucial resources like coaching, mentorship, and possibly funding for education.
Crucially, this support will come from a special fund created by the ICC and the contributing boards.
It will not affect the regular funding allocated to the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB), which currently doesn't field a women's team due to the restrictions.
While this initiative doesn't grant official team status – something only the ACB can do – it represents the first major step by the global cricket community to formally engage with and support these players since 2021.
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