The Afghanistan Women cricketers Firooza Amiri and Benafsha Hashimi who fled the country after the Taliban takeover in 2021 have spoken about the complexities around Afghanistan in world cricket.
Both players continue to play club cricket in Australia with hopes of representing their country someday even though that will not be possible until the Afghanistan Cricket Board puts up an Afghanistan women’s team.
Under Taliban rule, ACB can’t do so because of the country’s laws, which banned women from playing the sport.
Being Afghanistan are ICC full member, the country must have a women’s team, there has been debate over whether or not to sanction Afghanistan’s men’s team.
With Australia and England refuse to play bilateral series against them in protest, but continue to play them at ICC events, while the other full member nation engaged with Afghanistan.
On the other hand, South Africa are the most recent relevant example. With Country’s sports minister, Gayton McKenzie recently cited gender discrimination as a reason not to play against Afghanistan, CSA believes punishing the men’s players for a situation beyond their control will not force change.
“The Afghanistan men’s team brings a kind of hope. They are role models for us. I don’t want to say I’m not supporting them at all,” told Amiri.
Firooza Amiri ( Afghan Women cricketer said), “Don’t ban the Afghanistan men’s side from playing international cricket but do expect them to do more for the women and girls who don’t have the same rights they do.” pic.twitter.com/8AmAhJslg4
— ACB Xtra (@acb_190) January 22, 2025
“But when I cannot play for Afghanistan, what’s more heartbreaking is when you see the men can do something and the women cannot do it – which is absolutely wrong. Everything men can do, women can do as well.”
Meanwhile Hashimi said, “I can say 50-50. I was happy because my team has played very well and Afghanistan got to the semi-finals [of the 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup] which is quite good for us because we haven’t been there but on the other side I was just hopeless.”
“We have a really great men’s team but we never focus on a women’s team and it is a bit difficult to talk about. So I was happy and I was sad too. It’s a difficult feeling to describe: men having more opportunity than girls.”
Amiri and Hashimi refuse to play Afghanistan in bilateral cricket and saidAmiri to wonder whether selective shunning of the men’s team.
“If it has an impact on our team, that we can put pressure on the Afghanistan Cricket Board to make a women’s team, then we will be happy, but only if it’s a way we can start playing cricket.”
Amiri recognised that Afghanistan’s men team had made certain progress in recent days.
“They are in a good position at the moment in the world and if they start supporting us, they’ll have a big impact on our team. They can be very, very helpful for us and for all the women. If women can start playing sport, women can start studying as well. It can be a pathway.”
“If they start supporting us, it’s going to be a way for all women. If they can hear my voice from here: Afghanistan, national players, please, please be the voice of the girls at the moment. Please do more for us.”
“Start doing something for women. You are the voice of Afghanistan. They are the most famous people at the moment. They can be the voice of millions and millions of girls.”
Despite her plea, Amiri recognised that the men’s players may be risking their safety if they speak out.
“I know that there were always some challenges for them as well. Some of their families are still in Afghanistan. We don’t want you to be in danger.”
Afghanistan women are set to play a T20 match against a Cricket without Borders Xl, which will take place on January 30 at Junction Oval ahead of the Women’s Ashes at Melbourne Cricket Ground.
