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Struggles of Afghanistan’s women cricketers
Afghanistan’s women cricket players’ journey from their homeland to Australia is a tale of innate bravery and passion for cricket. Afghanistan’s women’s situation deteriorated further when the Taliban took control of the country in 2021. The same was true for the women who wanted to do sports.
Nineteen contracted players faced the prospect of losing everything they owned, but with the help of former Australian cricket player Mel Jones and other volunteers, the players, their coaches, and their families managed to flee Afghanistan and make a fresh start in Australia, where they are still playing their favorite sport.
Taliban’s ban on women’s cricket
After the Taliban took power, women’s rights—including the ability to participate in sports—were methodically dismantled. In 2020, 25 women cricket players were under contract with the Afghanistan Cricket Board, and the squad was about to make its debut on the international scene. But the abrupt prohibition dashed their hopes and put their lives in jeopardy.
Mel Jones’ orchaestrated their great escape
It was Jones who decided to help them escape. In order to obtain humanitarian visas for the players and their families, she acted as an unofficial immigration officer from her Melbourne hotel room, working with representatives of the Australian government.
“I’m not someone you know. However, do any of the participants, including you, feel that your lives are in danger and would you consider leaving? Members of the Afghanistan Cricket Board, coaches, administrators, and players’ families were added to the list of 19 Afghanistan-contracted players, which quickly expanded to over 135 players. Quickly, the list grew significantly. According to the Australian Government, this is not likely to succeed. Mel Jones spoke to Fox Cricket about her 2021 message to Hashimi, saying, “But in the end, we got 130-plus out.”
Risky breakout
In order to stay out of trouble, the players had to trash their cricket shirts and equipment. To avoid Taliban checkpoints, they traveled in small groups while claiming to be visiting a sick relative. Local volunteers and Australian officials assisted in the covert execution of the travel from Afghanistan to Pakistan.
“I think it was the most stressful aspect of it. Kabul had fallen to the Taliban, but it was not the only area along the border where various armed organizations enjoyed authority. There was an ISIS section. Everything was carried out in secret. We had to schedule it at different times, and the families couldn’t all depart at once because it would have been too obvious. They also needed to come up with plausible enough excuses for their trip to Pakistan when they reached the gate. Jones continued, “Then it was just drip-feeding them through the border.”
New beginning in Australia
Nine players eventually made it to Canberra in 2022 after months of cautious travel, while the remaining players settled in Melbourne. Life in Australia has been difficult, though, since many people are still dealing with the atrocities of their past.
“Horrendous isn’t enough. You have no reason to live. Without education, you are unable to attend school. The Taliban has issued decrees prohibiting communication with anyone outside of your immediate family. You are incapable of reading poetry, singing, or doing anything else. It’s becoming worse. It’s a jail. Jones went on to say.
Afghanistan’s women cricketers rebuild their future
The players have, in the meantime, been able to work and resume playing cricket. A few of them were spotted playing in an exhibition match at Junction Oval versus the Cricket Without Borders XI.
They are enjoying playing cricket and having the freedom to go out and express themselves to the fullest. However, they are still experiencing acute trauma. All of those traumas include financial, spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical health. It has been particularly difficult,” Jones said.
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