The itinerary includes high\u2011quality training sessions and T20 matches for the side, as per a partnership between the MCC and the MCC Foundation. The tour carries significant cultural and sporting importance, given the exclusion of women from sport in Afghanistan since the Taliban\u2019s return to power in 2021.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
More than 20 members of the Afghanistan women\u2019s cricket team have resettled in Australia since 2021, and played their first competitive match in Melbourne in January 2025. The Afghanistan women\u2019s squad members were also present in India during last year\u2019s ODI World Cup.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cSince being displaced from Afghanistan in 2021, these players have shown extraordinary resilience in continuing their cricket journeys, in incredibly challenging circumstances. We have worked with It\u2019s Game On to build an itinerary and a set of experiences that we hope will be enjoyable and memorable.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cWe are also delighted that the squad will attend the final of the ICC Women\u2019s T20 World Cup 2026. Cricket has a responsibility to stand for inclusion and opportunity, and we are proud to be hosting this tour and supporting the players in deepening their connection to the game,\u201d said Clare Connor, ECB Deputy CEO and Managing Director of England Women.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The International Cricket Council (ICC) last year announced a dedicated task force to support displaced Afghan female cricketers, assisted by the ECB, Cricket Australia, and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). A fund was set up to provide direct monetary assistance, though its long\u2011term future remains uncertain.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cThis tour is a major step forward, but also highlights how much work remains. These players have shown extraordinary courage and commitment to the game, despite everything that has been taken from them.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The International Cricket Council (ICC) last year announced a dedicated task force to support displaced Afghan female cricketers, assisted by the ECB, Cricket Australia, and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). A fund was set up to provide direct monetary assistance, though its long\u2011term future remains uncertain.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Afghanistan remains a full member of the ICC, which requires national boards to field women\u2019s teams. The men\u2019s side has retained its Test status despite the absence of a women\u2019s team. In April, FIFA cleared Afghanistan\u2019s return to international women\u2019s football, a move hailed as a breakthrough for the exiled players.<\/p>\r\n\r\n