ECB Hosts Afghanistan Women’s Refugee Cricket Team in England for Special Tour

The ECB will welcome the Afghanistan refugee women’s cricket team to England in June for a special tour. During their stay, the team will play T20 games and train at world-class facilities. The ECB is running the programme with support from the MCC and MCC Foundation. The Afghan players will remain in England until at least June 5 and will also attend the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup final at Lord’s. Back in April 2021, the International Cricket Council (ICC) awarded the Afghanistan women’s cricket team full member status.

However, three months later, the Taliban came into power and excluded women from sport and public life. This forced women cricketers to leave the country, with over 20 players resettling in Australia.

“Since being displaced from Afghanistan in 2021, these players have shown extraordinary resilience in continuing their cricket journeys, in incredibly challenging circumstances,” Clare Connor, ECB Deputy CEO and Managing Director of England Women, said.

“We have worked with It’s Game On to build an itinerary and a set of experiences that we hope will be enjoyable and memorable. We are also delighted that the squad will attend the final of the ICC Women’s 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,” she added.

ECB hosts Afghanistan refugee women’s team for special England tour

Last year, Cricket Australia organised a match between the Afghanistan women’s team and Cricket Without Borders XI at Junction Oval in January 2025 before the Women’s Ashes Test began. The ECB is following in their footsteps by hosting them for a tour.

One has to remember that both CA and ECB have cut ties with the Afghanistan men’s teams and don’t host them for bilateral cricket since the Taliban came into power. Two former cricketer and reputed commentator Mel Jones’ global sports consultancy, Its Game On, had facilitated Afghanistan women cricketers’ relocation to Australia, and she’s elated that the ECB is taking a step in the right direction.

“This 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. They deserve more opportunities like this; they deserve to be recognised as part of the global cricket community. Moments like this matter, but we need to see plans for sustained and meaningful action beyond this year,” Jones said.

The Afghanistan women’s cricket team has appealed to the International Cricket Council to let them compete in international cricket as a refugee team. They want a similar arrangement to the one approved by FIFA, which allowed the Afghanistan women’s football team to play as the country’s official national side without approval from the Taliban government.