​Afghanistan’s women’s refugee cricket team is on track to have its funding extended. Last year, the cricket boards of England, Australia and India, along with the International Cricket Council (ICC), announced a joint programme to support players who were forced to flee after the Taliban returned to power in 2021. Sources familiar with BBC Sport say the task force handling this matter met during the ICC’s annual conference in Edinburgh and recommended that the project continue. ICC deputy chair Imran Khwaja is expected to formally present that recommendation at the board meeting on Saturday. Officials from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), Cricket Australia (CA) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have all endorsed the proposal, and it would come as a major surprise if the ICC board does not approve it.
The three boards are also eager for the ICC to take a more substantial role in the project going forward, including a share of the funding and resources. Since settling in Australia, where they currently live and train, Afghanistan’s women players have repeatedly urged the ICC to recognise them again as an international team and to commit to long‑term funding. They are presently on a tour of the UK and, last month, urged the ICC to provide a clear answer about their future. While the exact duration of the funding is yet to be decided, it is believed the commitment could extend through to 2032, with discussions about the possible timeframe taking place at the forthcoming board meeting.
What remains less certain is the roadmap for the team’s prospects of playing official international matches. BBC Sport understands a formal paper prepared by Clare Connor, chair of the ICC Women’s Cricket Committee, will be submitted to the ICC board for consideration. That paper includes a proposal enabling the team to participate in official international cricket. However, navigating this issue is extremely complex and sensitive, and a straightforward decision may not come quickly. The ICC has a duty of care to the Afghanistan Cricket Board’s officials, who operate under the Taliban, while there are concerns about the long‑term implications for men’s cricket in Afghanistan.
Nevertheless, bringing the question of official matches to the board level is viewed as a significant milestone that could lay the groundwork for further discussions. Afghanistan’s women met with ICC president Jay Shah and other ICC officials at Lord’s before the Women’s T20 World Cup final on 5 July, and several key speeches were reportedly well received by influential figures present. The ICC has also been quietly strengthening the project’s structure: last month, the ICC’s executive committee agreed to add a dedicated female representative to the task force.