Afghan women cricketers say rights matter more than new league

Afghan women's cricketers have claimed that international players joining the inaugural Afghanistan Premier League are signaling that the suffering of women in their country can be overlooked. Since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, female participation in sport has been effectively outlawed, forcing many Afghan women's cricketers to flee for safety.

The men's franchise tournament is scheduled to begin in the UAE this December, although it has not yet received sanctioning from the International Cricket Council. In September, the England and Wales Cricket Board encouraged players to rethink their participation, which led to the withdrawal of batter Ollie Pope.

Nahida Sapan, who served as captain for the Afghanistan Refugee Women's XI during their tour of England this summer, spoke on the BBC Stumped podcast. She stated, "For five years, girls in Afghanistan have been denied the right to play cricket and many other basic rights." She added that foreign players missed a significant chance to support millions of Afghan women and girls by choosing to participate, noting, "It may have seemed like a small action, but it could have sent a powerful message and put pressure on those responsible."

During Tuesday's draft, eight English players were selected, joining others from Scotland, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand. The English players signed include Alex Hales, Tymal Mills, Joe Clarke, Olly Stone, Moeen Ali, Luke Wood, Tom Moores, and Chris Wood. Additionally, Scotland’s George Munsey and Ireland’s Curtis Campher secured deals, while England’s Dawid Malan and James Vince also entered the draft.

England currently holds more overseas representation in the league than any other nation. Notable international signings include Sri Lanka’s Kusal Perera, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dushmantha Chameera, and Kamindu Mendis, Australian batter D'Arcy Short, South African spinner Imran Tahir, and Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan.

The England and Wales Cricket Board has declined to organise bilateral matches with Afghanistan since the Taliban takeover, a policy also followed by Australia. However, England has continued to face Afghanistan in global tournaments, including limited-overs World Cups and the Champions Trophy, leading to calls from MPs to boycott their 2025 match. Sapan concluded, "For me, the women and girls of Afghanistan come first. Their rights, dignity and freedom matter more than any league or sporting opportunity. Taking part in this league without acknowledging what is happening to Afghan women risks sending the message to the world that their suffering can simply be ignored."