The England and Wales Cricket Board will host an Afghanistan Refugee Women's Team for a special tour starting on June 22, offering competitive cricket and training in England, and underlining support for women displaced from Afghanistan after the Taliban's return to power in August 2021.
The squad includes former Afghanistan internationals who fled restrictions on women's sport and public life and later resettled in Australia, where players have kept playing domestic cricket and training together while seeking chances to stay linked with elite competition.
Afghanistan Refugee Women's Team tour schedule and World Cup link
The tour, organised with the Marylebone Cricket Club and the MCC Foundation, features T20 fixtures and high-performance coaching sessions. The Afghanistan Refugee Women's Team will also attend
the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 final at Lord's on July 5, connecting their visit with a major global event.
This initiative builds on previous appearances by displaced Afghanistan cricketers, including a match against a Cricket Without Borders XI at Junction Oval in January 2025, played just before the Women's Ashes Test at the MCG and streamed by Cricket Australia to highlight their ongoing involvement.
| Event | Date | Location / Organisation |
|---|---|---|
| Tour begins for Afghanistan Refugee Women's Team | June 22 | England, hosted by ECB with MCC and MCC Foundation |
| Attendance at ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 final | July 5 | Lord's |
| Match vs Cricket Without Borders XI | January 2025 | Junction Oval, streamed by Cricket Australia |
Afghanistan Refugee Women's Team, inclusivity goals and support network
The ECB said the visit aims to deliver meaningful match practice while underlining cricket's stance on inclusion. Clare Connor, ECB Deputy CEO and Managing Director of England Women, said: "Since being displaced from Afghanistan in 2021, these players have shown extraordinary resilience in continuing their cricket journeys, in incredibly challenging circumstances,"
Connor added: "We have worked with It's Game On to build an itinerary and a set of experiences that we hope will be enjoyable and memorable. We are also delighted that the squad will attend the final of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026. "
Connor also stated: "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. " The Afghanistan Refugee Women's Team project therefore links performance, visibility, and welfare support.
The relocation and continuing backing for several players has involved It's Game On, a sports consultancy co-founded by Mel Jones, Emma Staples and Dr. Catherine Orway. Jones assisted many Afghanistan cricketers to move safely to Australia and has worked with global bodies on programmes for displaced women athletes, including the Afghanistan Refugee Women's Team.
Reflecting on the tour's impact, Jones said: "This tour is a major step forward, but also highlights how much work remains," and continued, "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. " The tour therefore stands as both progress and a reminder of ongoing responsibility.
