Afghan Women Cricketers to Tour England in June and July

A team of Afghan women cricketers displaced after the Taliban's return to power will tour England next month, marking a significant step in their efforts to rebuild their careers and remain part of the international game. The England and Wales Cricket Board announced the tour on Thursday.

The tour will begin on June 22 and will include Twenty20 matches and training sessions. The players will also attend the final of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup at Lord's on July 5. The ECB described the tour as carrying significant cultural and sporting importance.

The team consists of players who were formerly contracted to the Afghanistan Cricket Board but left the country after being systematically excluded from sport and public life following the Taliban's return to power in 2021. Most of these players have resettled in Australia, where they have continued playing in domestic competitions but have had no pathway to international cricket.

Their reintegration has been supported by the consultancy firm Its Game On, co-founded by former Australian international cricketer Mel Jones. In a statement released by the ECB, Jones praised the players' resilience. "These players have shown extraordinary...