Afghan refugee team's future to be discussed by ICC

An Afghanistan women's XI played its first competitive match in Melbourne in January 2025

The future funding of the Afghanistan women's refugee team will be one of the topics discussed at the International Cricket Council's annual conference next month.

Last year, the cricket boards in England, Australia. India, plus the ICC, announced a joint programme to support the players who wereexiled after the Taliban returned to power in 2021.

Having played their first competitive match in Melbourne in January 2025. travelled to India during last year's 50-over World Cup, the squad are touring England for a series of developmental T20 matches this summer, but that funding ends in August.

There is likely to be a discussion about cricket's integration of refugees more broadly at the four-day ICC conference. which begins in Edinburgh on 8 July - three days after the Afghan team will attend the T20 World Cup final at Lord's.

Afghanistan women's refugee team to tour England

The Afghan women's team who will not be silenced

Earlier this month, the England. Wales Cricket Board's managing director of women's cricket and deputy chief executive, Clare Connor, toldthe Stumped podcastit would be an "abdication of responsibility" if the ICC does not consider a sustainable model for the Afghanistan team's future funding.

More than 20 members of what was the Afghanistan national team have been exiled after female participation in sport was effectively outlawed in their home country.

Those players have spoken of a wish to be recognised for international competition, something that has not yet been agreed.

In April, Fifa approved Afghanistan's return to international women's football competitions.