Cricket player Firooza Amiri says that her team will “represent millions of women in Afghanistan who are refused their rights” if the page reunities after more than three years for an exhibition game in Australia on Thursday.
An Afghanistan -Women -xi will play a cricket without limits in the game of Melbournes Junction Oval. It will bring together 21 players who used to contractually contractually contractually exceed the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) before the Taliban regime exceeds control in August 2021.
Since the escape of Afghanistan, the Women Cricketers, who are prohibited in their home country, have been based in Canberra and Melbourne and play for various club teams in local competitions.
Amiri and Nahida Sapan, who will become the XI of Afghan women, thanked the Australian government and Cricket Australia for their support in promoting women’s sports.
“It is very special for all of us to come back together after three years, to leave everything and lose everything in Afghanistan and come back together,” said Amiri this week.
Amiri had to flee from her home country when the Taliban took control. She and her family first traveled to Pakistan and were then evacuated to Australia.
“I would also like to express the deepest gratitude for everyone who supports us. Your support means the world,” said Sapan. “Together we not only build up a team. We build a movement for changes and improvements.
“This is a very historical moment for all Afghan women. This game can open doors for Afghan women for education, sport and our future.”
Sapan announced the BBC in 2023 that her family received murder threats from government officials after the Taliban was repeated. The threatening news included: “If we find them, we won’t let them live.”
Nick Hockley, Managing Director of Cricket Australia, praised the resistance of the players. He said it was a strong moment when their team shirts for the exhibition game were presented.
“To play shirts for the first time with your names and numbers on the back, you can see how much it means for you,” said Hockley. “I am only inspired by your resistance, your love for the game.”
According to Hockley, about discussions with the International Cricket Council (ICC) would continue to “use” for changes. He said the game on Thursday was an important first step.
“This match illuminates the fact that not every woman and every girl have the chance to play in places around the world,” said Hockley. “We continue to support the ICC and continue to deal with the ACB (Afghanistan Cricket Board).
“It is such a complex situation. It’s bigger than cricket.”
According to the Taliban rule, the Afghanistan Cricket Board cannot carry out a national team of women, since the country’s laws prohibit women to play, study and play medical training that were criticized by world groups, including the International Criminal Court.
Afghanistan is a comprehensive member of the ICC, and a state of this status should require a women’s side.
England and Australia refuse to take part in direct series against Afghanistan, but continue to play against you at ICC events, such as the Champions Trophy Global Event in Pakistan next month.
The English Cricket captain Jos Buttler said last week that his team should not boycott the Afghan men’s team if they were supposed to play in Lahore in the Champions Trophy on February 26. However, South Africa’s sports minister has asked the Proteas to boycott their match against Afghanistan in the same tournament.
When asked why Australia would play a men’s game against Afghanistan in an ICC event, but not in a bilateral series, Hockley said that Ca was “obliged” to play all planned games at ICC events.
“We really try to do everything we can to do something,” said Hockley. “We played Afghanistan in other ICC events. You have to pull a line somewhere and I think we made our attitude quite clearly.”
Mohammad Nabi and Rashid Khan from the National Cricket team of the men of Afghanistan have published the support of women on social media after the Taliban training institutes for nursing and midwives were closed.
Hockley said he hoped that the game on Thursday, which was not announced, would become an annual and that it would “promote many conversations”.
“You need such moments to make real changes. The first piece is a consciousness,” said Hockley. “Hopefully this game only lowers awareness. I think it’s a real beacon of hope.”
