By Mehr Jan
When the news announced that the International Cricket Council supports female cricket players in Afghanistan, Firooza Afghan has been overwhelmed. “I cannot describe my feelings,” she said, her voice bringing the weight of years spent fighting for recognition. “It’s not just three years – it looks more than 20 years old.”
In Melbourne, Nahida Sapan received the news with tears. “We sent a message and we called ourselves-some of the girls were crying,” she said. “We worked very hard for that. Now we feel inspired and appreciated. ”
For these two women, once his teammates in a country who have erased their right to play, the announcement of the ICC has marked more than institutional progress. He offered the visibility, dignity and long -standing recognition that Afghan women belong to the field.
The ICC has announced that it would create a working group to support the Afghan cricket players who fled after the return of the Taliban in power in 2021. For many, including the Afghan and Sapan, the decision is an important turning point in a long and exhausting battle.
“When we were in Afghanistan, previous women have already been fighting to build this team since 2010,” said Afghan. “They wanted us to represent our country as women in Pakistan, India and Australia. It is not only news for us – it’s for all Afghan women around the world.”
After taking control of the Taliban, women were prohibited from almost all areas of public life, including sports. Six months after obtaining his national contract, Afghan was forced to flee from Australia.
Sapan, also among the 25 women who had been contracted in 2020 by Afghanistan Cricket Board, also found himself in exile.
Human Rights Watch and other plea groups have pressed the ICC to suspend members of Afghanistan and ban the men’s team from international competition for not responding to the obligation to support a female team. Although no measure was taken against the male team, the announcement in April reported a quarter of a long time expected for a long time.
Financing, installations and willingness to play
The ICC working group will be created in collaboration with CICCATER advice from India, England and Australia. It includes a dedicated fund for direct monetary assistance and a high performance program offering coaching, access to world class installations and tailor -made mentoring.
“It’s not the end. We just started,” said Afghan. “I think the happy spot will come. We were fighting for our rights before, but with this support, we can make history for all Afghan women. ”
Earlier this year, Afghan and his teammates took a step towards recovery of this future. In January, they played their first game in exile – an exhibition game in Australia organized by Cricket Sans Frontières.
Although symbolic, the match highlighted their commitment to sport, even in exile.
“We feel seen,” said Sapan, who managed the team in this match. “It gave us hope and confidence that we still have a future in cricket.”
However, the ICC has not confirmed if these exiled players could be officially recognized as a national female team of Afghanistan.
Between politics and the field
Despite the global pressure, the Afghanistan male team continues to receive funding from the ICC and competing internationally.
The nations of which Australia refused the bilateral series with the male team, citing the systemic restrictions of the Taliban on women and girls, including the prohibitions of secondary and higher education, employment and public mobility.
The Taliban, for their part, said that they support the rights of women in accordance with their interpretation of Islamic law and Afghan cultural values. Meanwhile, the silence of the Afghan male cricket players was another recall of the Gulf with which these women are confronted.
“It’s difficult,” said Sapan. “We know the situation in Afghanistan. The cricket council cannot support us because if they do it, they could lose the chance to play the men’s team. Supporting us could completely close the cricket council door. ”
However, despite politics, threats and isolation, Sapan and his teammates remain determined.
“I remember the first time I saw the cricket – only men played,” said Afghan. “Now I want the next generation of girls to grow when I saw us and believe they can.”