sports
ICC to Review Future of Temporary Funding for Afghanistan Women's Refugee Cricket Team as Current Programme Ends
The International Cricket Council will address the team's support at its annual conference in July after a joint funding programme ends in August. More than 20 exiled players have competed in matches in Australia, India and England.
bbc.co.ukAudio version
Tap play to generate a narrated version.
Developing·Limited corroboration so far. This page will refresh as more sources emerge.
The International Cricket Council will discuss the future funding of the Afghanistan women's refugee team at its annual conference next month. The joint programme established last year by the cricket boards of England, Australia and India together with the ICC ends in August.
The team played its first competitive match in Melbourne in January 2025 and travelled to India during last year's 50-over World Cup.
It is currently touring England for a series of developmental T20 matches this summer. The four-day ICC conference begins in Edinburgh on 8 July. Three days earlier the team will attend the T20 World Cup final at Lord's.
Clare Connor, the England and Wales Cricket Board's managing director of women's cricket and deputy chief executive, told the Stumped podcast earlier this month that it would be an "abdication of responsibility" if the ICC does not consider a sustainable model for the Afghanistan team's future funding.
More than 20 members of what was the Afghanistan national team have been exiled after female participation in sport was effectively outlawed in their home country. Those players have spoken of a wish to be recognised for international competition, something that has not yet been agreed.
In April, Fifa approved Afghanistan's return to international women's football competitions. The ICC conference is also expected to address cricket's integration of refugees more broadly.
