Thu Jan 30 04:38:46 UTC 2025: ## Afghan Women Cricketers Play First Match Since Fleeing Taliban
**Melbourne, Australia** – Three years after fleeing Afghanistan following the Taliban takeover, the Afghan women’s cricket team played their first match together on Thursday. The charity game, held at Melbourne’s Junction Oval, marked a powerful symbol of resilience and hope for the women who were forced to abandon their sport and their homeland.
Captain Nahida Sapan expressed the hope that the match would serve as a catalyst for broader change in Afghanistan, where women’s sports and education have been largely banned. “Together, we’re building not just a team, but a movement for change and promise,” she stated. “We have big hopes for this match because it can open doors for Afghan women.”
The team, comprised of 22 of the 25 women who once held professional contracts with the Afghanistan Cricket Board, reunited in Australia after seeking refuge there. Player Firooza Amiri highlighted the emotional significance of the event, stating, “We are going to represent millions of Afghan women in Afghanistan who are denied their rights.”
The players have previously appealed to the International Cricket Council (ICC) to create a refugee team, allowing them to compete officially, but their request has yet to be granted. Despite this setback, the match received strong support from Cricket Australia, who pledged to advocate for the team at the highest levels. Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley expressed pride in the organization’s support for the players.
The game itself pitted the Afghan women’s team against an invitational side representing Cricket Without Borders, a charity promoting women’s participation in cricket. The match underscored the ongoing struggle for women’s rights in Afghanistan and the determination of these athletes to use their platform to advocate for change.
First Piper 