The Afghanistan ladies’s cricket workforce, comprising refugees dwelling in Australia, will play a T20 match towards Cricket With out Borders XI on the Junction Oval right here on Thursday, first outing for them on a cricket area since 2021.
The cricket workforce members, who fled Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover, have been dwelling in Canberra and Melbourne since arriving in Australia.
The match will likely be performed forward of the opening day of the day-night Girls’s Ashes Check on the MCG between Australia and England.
“I feel it is a first step. I feel it’s going to be such an thrilling day on Thursday, and my hope is that promotes a number of conversations, that this turns into an annual factor after which finally, that this workforce is ready to compete on the worldwide stage as is their need,” stated Cricket Australia chief government Nick Hockley throughout a press meet.
“I don’t suppose any of us can comprehend what they’ve been by means of transferring to a brand new nation in such tough circumstances, not talking the language.
“I’m simply impressed by their resilience, their love for the sport and hopefully this recreation simply raises consciousness, an actual beacon of hope,” he added.
ALSO READ | Smriti Mandhana named ICC Girls’s ODI Cricketer Of The 12 months 2024
Nahida Sapan, one of many Afghan cricketers, rated the second as “historic” however wished extra help from the group.
“It’s actually particular for us, particularly for Afghan ladies as a result of it is a very historic second for all Afghan ladies,” she stated.
“We’ve got a giant hopes for this match, as a result of this match can open doorways for Afghan ladies, for schooling, sport and future. We don’t need this to be our first and final match. We wish extra matches. We wish extra help.” In males’s cricket, Australia don’t play Afghanistan in bilateral matches however proceed to face them in ICC tournaments.
The Aussies and the Afghans are positioned in the identical group for subsequent month’s Champions Trophy.