International Cricket Council (ICC) chief Geoff Aldrice addressed the media in Dhaka on Sunday with some sobering remarks regarding the state of women’s cricket in Afghanistan. At an event heralding the forthcoming ICC T20 World Cup, Aldrice spoke candidly about the difficulties faced by the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) in fostering the growth of women’s cricket amid current circumstances in the country. “I think at the moment, the Afghanistan Cricket Board, who is our member, is unable to field the team,” Aldrice stated, indicating a stagnation that might continue unless there are significant changes in the country’s approach to women’s sports.
For years, Afghanistan, a full member nation of the ICC, had been taking strides towards establishing a women’s cricket team. However, recent political changes and the regime shift under the Taliban have impeded progress. This has placed Afghanistan as the sole full member nation without a women’s team, rendering it unable to participate in the upcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. The lack of representation is stark amid the glorious pavilion of global cricket where teams from various countries celebrate the spirit of competition and sportsmanship.
The upcoming event has divided teams into two groups, each boasting five strong contenders—with powerhouses such as Australia, India, and England in the mix—leaving a conspicuous void where Afghanistan’s team should have been. The missed opportunity for Afghan women cricketers resonates with a broader international concern about gender equality and human rights under Taliban governance.
This absence is a continuation of the sporting isolation facing Afghanistan’s cricketers. In March 2024, Cricket Australia had to make the tough call of postponing their scheduled T20I series against Afghanistan. Initially slated to be played in the UAE the following August, Cricket Australia made this decision due to the unchanged stance of the Taliban on women’s involvement in cricket—merely one incident in a pattern of cancelled engagements following the takeover.
Despite these setbacks, the ICC has not lost sight of its mission to advance cricket for all. Aldrice expressed optimism about the future, revealing plans to bolster the women’s cricket landscape globally. He highlighted that the next ICC Women’s World Cup would witness ten teams battling it out, up from the current count. Furthermore, future T20 World Cups would see the expansion to 12 teams, with additional discussions ongoing about potentially increasing this number even further.
The ICC Women’s Championship, another platform showcasing the international prowess of women’s cricket, is set to expand to include ten teams, providing new opportunities for less experienced teams from countries like Bangladesh and Ireland. This exposure to more seasoned opponents aims to raise the level of competition and offer invaluable experience to developing teams.
Aldrice spoke about the importance of a robust framework to support competitive cricket, particularly for associate member nations. He highlighted the encouraging statistic showing that associate members’ women’s T20 internationals matched those of their male counterparts in frequency—a testament to the growing interest and dedication to women’s cricket. The goal, as outlined by the ICC chief, is to create a multitude of opportunities for emerging teams to earn their place on the grand stage, potentially through World Cup participation.
The cricket fraternity awaits a time when Afghanistan’s women will have the chance to share in these opportunities and compete on the global stage. Until that day comes, the ICC remains committed to fostering growth, expanding access, and advancing the cause of women’s cricket worldwide, with the hopes of a more inclusive future where every strike, every run, and every match serves as a celebration of diversity and equality in the sport.