Exiled Afghanistan women players urge men’s team: ‘Speak up for the girls’

Firooza Amiri and Benafsha Hashimi, two former Afghanistan women’s cricketers now living in exile in Australia, have shared their experiences and challenges since fleeing Afghanistan after the Taliban’s 2021 takeover. They play club cricket in Australia with hopes of one day representing Afghanistan, but the country’s laws prevent the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) from fielding a women’s team. This restriction comes under the Taliban’s regime, which prohibits women from playing sports, studying, and working.

While Afghanistan’s ICC Full Membership mandates a women’s side, the debate over sanctioning the Afghanistan men’s team continues. Some countries, like Australia and England, refuse to play Afghanistan in bilateral series, yet still compete with them in ICC events. Amiri and Hashimi support the men’s team’s success but express frustration at the lack of opportunity for women. They want the men’s team to advocate for women’s rights and become vocal supporters of women’s cricket in Afghanistan.

Amiri stressed that if the men’s team supports women’s cricket, it could pave the way for women’s participation in sports and education. Despite the risks the men may face, Amiri urged them to be a voice for women. Hashimi echoed these sentiments, calling the situation bittersweet as Afghanistan’s men excel, but women remain sidelined.

Although Amiri and Hashimi’s desire for a ban on the men’s team is tempered by concerns about its impact, they emphasize the need for global support. Mel Jones, who assisted Afghan women cricketers’ escape, highlighted the lack of conversation around this issue, urging the cricketing community to continue advocating for the women and keeping their story alive.