The International Cricket Council (ICC) has officially set a 2030 target for the Afghan refugee women’s cricket team to enter its qualification pathway for international events. This significant development was ratified during the ICC Annual Conference held in Edinburgh, where the board also reconstituted a Special Task Force to manage a long-term roadmap for the squad. While this is the first time the ICC has provided a formal timeline for the team, officials noted that the squad will not compete as Afghanistan, as they lack the backing of the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB).
To support this initiative, the expanded Task Force now features ICC Independent Director Ros Rivaz and ICC Chief Executives' Committee member Sarah Keane, alongside representatives from the BCCI, Cricket Australia, and the ECB. The group is charged with overseeing a development program that includes structured coaching, high-performance pathways, and competitive opportunities over the next five years. Rivaz emphasized that the goal is to create a sustainable roadmap for these athletes, who continue to train while based across Australia, England, and Canada.
The program, which launched earlier this year, provides players with strength and conditioning support, physiotherapy, and regular coaching. Players maintain their involvement in local cricket systems while gathering for periodic overseas training camps and tours. Recent efforts include a tour hosted by the ECB in partnership with the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) and the MCC Foundation, as well as a match against a 'Cricket Without Borders XI' in January 2025 at the Junction Oval in Melbourne.
The initiative was born out of the displacement of Afghanistan's women cricketers following the return of the Taliban to power in 2021, which effectively halted the nation's women's cricket program. Players like Nahida Sapan and Firooza Afghan have praised the program for keeping the team connected and focused. Sapan noted the reassurance of having long-term ICC support, while Afghan highlighted that recent tours to India and England have reinforced the players' belief in their international future.
The relocation and support of the athletes have been facilitated in part by It's Game On, a global sports consultancy co-founded by former Australian cricketer Mel Jones, Emma Staples, and Dr. Catherine Orway. Jones, who played a key role in the players' relocation to Australia, stated that the 2030 roadmap serves as a powerful message that talent and determination deserve opportunity. She expressed excitement about the team's progress, noting that the initiative balances development with meaningful competition to honor the players' unique journey.
Many of those players have since resettled overseas and have continued training under the ICC-backed programme.
