KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Afghanistan women’s cricket team played their first match in over three years on Thursday in Melbourne, Australia, after being forced to flee Afghanistan following the Taliban’s return to power.
The match, organized with the support of Cricket Australia and the Australian government, saw the team facing the Without Borders women’s cricket team in a 20-over match but was defeated.
Afghanistan Ambassador to Australia Wahidullah Waissi, along with several Australian officials, including Sam Mostyn, the Governor-General of Australia, attended the event in support of the team.
The Afghanistan Embassy in Australia called the match “a unique and commendable event for both the organizers and participants.”
Since the Taliban’s takeover, women in Afghanistan have been banned from playing sports, including cricket. Many female athletes, including cricketers, have either been forced to quit their sport or flee the country due to fear of retribution.
“Organizing this cricket match outside Afghanistan echoes the powerful voice of Afghan girls and women in their struggle against Taliban and the rejection of the identity imposed on them under the guise of foreign and un-Islamic culture,” the statement said.
While the Afghanistan women’s cricket team cannot play international sports, the men’s national cricket team has been able to continue competing internationally. The men’s team is set to play Australia next month in the Champions Trophy tournament in Pakistan.
