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The England and Wales Cricket Board has made a historical announcement as they have announced their decision to host the Afghanistan refugee women's team this summer for a tour, which has never been witnessed in the history of the game.
England is the parent nation that gave birth to the game of cricket. They have backed several organisations and have supported them to survive through rough patches, but the work they did to help the Afghan women was not only good for the game but also set an example for a world full of humanity.
England to host Afghanistan Refugee Women's team for bilaterals
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has made an iconic call as they will be hosting the Afghanistan Refugee Women's Team this summer for a landmark tour of England.
The tour is set to begin on the 22nd of June and will provide the Afghan Refugee Women’s Team with high‑quality training opportunities alongside T20 matches. Much of the program will be organised by the MCC Foundation, while they are likely to attend the final of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup at Lord's, which will give them exposure to the global game.
They are the Afghanistan Refugee Women's team, as after the Taliban government took charge of the nation in August 2021, the women have been systematically excluded from sports and public life.
'Game On' played a major role in relocating and supporting the Afghanistani women cricketers.
Several Afghan female players who were under contract with the ACB left the country and flew to foreign nations like Australia and New Zealand, and continued to rebuild their lives while sharing their passion for the game.
During those times, Game On, a global sport consultancy co-founded by Mel Jones and Emma Staples, played a key role—alongside Dr Catherine Orway—in supporting the safe relocation of the Pakistan players.
Mel Jones said, “This tour is a major step forward, but also highlights how much work remains. These players have shown extraordinary courage and commitment to the game, despite everything that has been taken from them."
"Cricket has a responsibility to stand for inclusion and opportunity," mentioned the ECB director for Women's cricket
“Since being displaced from Afghanistan in 2021, these players have shown extraordinary resilience in continuing their cricket journeys, in incredibly challenging circumstances.
"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," said Clare Connor, ECB deputy CEO and managing director of England Women.
"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,” she added while taking pride in hosting the Afghanistan women's team, who would gather from different parts of the world for the tour.
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