Refugee Afghanistan women cricketers to tour England during T20 World Cup 2026

Afghanistan's exiled women's cricketers will travel to England in June ahead of the Women's T20 World Cup 2026 final at Lord's. The tour is set to commence on June 22, where the Afghan refugee team will be provided with training opportunities and T20 matches, hosted by England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), along with the support from the MCC and MCC Foundation and sports consultancy It's Game On.

The players will also attend the final of the World Cup on July 5 at Lord's. The Afghanistan cricket board (ACB) held a women's cricket trial in Kabul in November 2020 and agreed to contract 25 women's players. However, nine months later, after Taliban’s takeover in the country, women and girls were banned from playing sports.

The majority of the players now live in Australia and are not recognised by the ICC as the Afghanistan Women's team. They played as an Afghanistan Women's XI against a Cricket Without Borders side during the 2025 Women's Ashes in Australia.

They also attended the Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 in India and took part in coaching sessions at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. Despite living in exile, several players have remained committed to playing cricket, and the upcoming trip to the World Cup will give them a chance to compete together as a team and also raise awareness about their ordeal.

Cricket has a responsibility to stand for inclusion: ECB

Clare Connor, ECB Deputy CEO and Managing Director of England Women, hailed Afghanistan players’ resilience and said that ECB are proud to host them.

"Since being displaced from Afghanistan in 2021, these players have shown extraordinary resilience in continuing their cricket journeys, in incredibly challenging circumstances. 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,” Connor was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo.

Former Australia player turned commentator, Mel Jones, who set up It's Game On with Emma Staples, Cricket Victoria's Head of Diversity, and consultant Dr Catherine Ordway, said the tour was a major step forward and the players should get more such opportunities.

"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,” said Jones.