ICC unveils 5-year roadmap for Afghan Refugee Women Cricketers to enter global qualification events by 2030

In a significant boost for Afghanistan’s refugee women cricketers, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has unveiled a five-year roadmap aimed at helping them compete in ICC qualification events by 2030.

The plan was approved during the ICC Annual Conference in Edinburgh, where the governing body also reconstituted its Special Task Force (STF) to oversee the team’s long-term development.

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It is the first time the ICC has set a clear timeline for the refugee team to progress towards international qualification events. However, they will not compete under the Afghanistan name as they do not have the backing of the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB).

The expanded Task Force now includes ICC Independent Director Ros Rivaz and ICC Chief Executives’ Committee member Sarah Keane, alongside representatives from the BCCI, Cricket Australia, and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

The group will supervise the team’s development programme and guide its progress towards competitive international cricket over the next five years.

“The Task Force has been entrusted with developing a clear and sustainable roadmap that supports the continued development of Afghan refugee women cricketers through structured coaching, meaningful competitive opportunities, and appropriate high-performance pathways,” Rivaz said.

The ICC-backed programme, which began earlier this year, will continue to provide coaching, strength and conditioning support, physiotherapy, and high-quality competitive opportunities.

Players based in Australia, England and Canada will remain part of their local cricket systems while coming together periodically for overseas training camps and tours.

The announcement comes soon after the ECB hosted the Afghanistan Refugee Women’s Team in England for a tour featuring T20 matches and high-performance training in partnership with the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) and the MCC Foundation. Earlier, in January 2025, the team played against a Cricket Without Borders XI at Melbourne’s Junction Oval before the Women’s Ashes Test, with the match streamed by Cricket Australia.

The initiative was launched after Afghanistan’s women’s cricket programme came to a halt following the Taliban’s return to power in 2021. Many of the country’s leading women cricketers were forced to leave Afghanistan and have since rebuilt their careers overseas with ICC support.

Nahida Sapan said the programme had helped the players stay united despite being spread across different countries.

“This programme has already made a real difference to us, not only by helping us continue playing cricket but also by enabling us to come together and play as a team. It is very reassuring to hear that the ICC and the Task Force are making a long-term commitment to supporting our development,” she said.

Fellow player Firooza Afghan believes the new roadmap gives the team a clear target.

“Over the past year, the opportunities to come together as a group and tour India and England have provided us with some of the most memorable experiences of our lives. The support to train in our home locations with quality coaches has played a big role in our progress.

“A long-term commitment to participation in ICC qualification pathways gives us a clear goal to work towards, and we are determined to make the most of every opportunity along that journey,” Firooza said.

The relocation and continued support of the players have also been facilitated by global sports consultancy It’s Game On, co-founded by former Australia cricketer Mel Jones, Emma Staples, and Dr Catherine Orway. Jones, who played a major role in helping many players relocate to Australia, welcomed the ICC’s decision.

“The continued support for these remarkable women, alongside a clear roadmap towards ICC qualification pathways by 2030, represents an important commitment to their future. It sends a powerful message that talent and determination deserve opportunity,” Jones said.

“These players are role models, inspiring women and girls around the world, and it’s exciting to see a long-term pathway that balances development with meaningful competition while recognising their unique journey. The progress they’ve made over the past year has been extraordinary, and I can’t wait to see what this team achieves by 2030,” she added.