The Afghanistan women's refugee cricket team will tour England starting June 22, 2026, including T20 matches, training sessions, and attending the Women's T20 World Cup final at Lord's on July 5 [1, 2].
More than 20 former members of Afghanistan's women's national team, exiled mainly in Australia since the Taliban regained control in 2021, make up the refugee squad [1]. The team played its first competitive match in Melbourne in January 2025 and toured India during the 50-over Women's World Cup later that year [1].
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) backs the tour as both culturally and sportingly important. Clare Connor, ECB deputy chief executive, said, "We are proud to be hosting this tour and supporting the players in deepening their connection to the game" [1, 2].
The International Cricket Council (ICC) established a dedicated taskforce in April 2025 to support displaced Afghan female cricketers, with help from the ECB, Cricket Australia, and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), including financial aid [1]. ICC policy requires full member countries like Afghanistan to have a women's national team, but Taliban restrictions have prevented Afghanistan's women's team from competing internationally despite the men's team holding Test status [1].
Most of the Afghan refugee players have resettled in Australia and continued domestic cricket careers but have lacked opportunities at the international level due to Taliban exclusion [2]. The reintegration efforts of Afghan women cricketers have been supported by the consultancy "It's Game On," cofounded by former Australian player Mel Jones. Jones said, "These players have shown extraordinary courage and commitment to the game, despite everything that has been taken from them. They deserve more opportunities like this; they deserve to be recognized as part of the global cricket community" [2].
The Afghan women cricketers have appealed to the ICC to allow them to play as Afghanistan, drawing hope from FIFA's April 2026 decision to reinstate Afghanistan in international women's football. Shafiqa Khan, an Afghan women's player, said, "Fifa has given significant hope to many Afghan women athletes and shown that no matter where they live, they can represent their country and follow their passion" [1].
England has no current plans for bilateral men's matches against Afghanistan; past clashes have occurred only in global tournaments [1].
The tour will culminate with the Afghan refugee team attending the Women's T20 World Cup final at Lord's on July 5, 2026 [2].
