The International Cricket Council has established a taskforce to provide direct funding, elite coaching, and facilities for Afghan women cricketers seeking to rejoin international competition. Following the Taliban's ban on women's sports in 2021, several players from Afghanistan's national women's team relocated to Australia and have been in need of official support. The ICC, in collaboration with national associations in Australia, India, and England, has agreed to support these displaced players, aiming to preserve their sporting careers and promote inclusivity in cricket.
Despite the Taliban's restrictions on women's participation in sports, the Afghanistan Women's XI played an exhibition match at Melbourne's Junction Oval in January, with support from the Australian government and former players contracted to the Afghanistan Cricket Board. The ICC's commitment to fostering inclusivity and providing opportunities for cricketers under challenging circumstances highlights the sport's unifying power beyond borders and adversity. Afghanistan's full membership in the ICC mandates the existence of a women's national team, a condition that has been compromised due to the Taliban's prohibitions on women's sports and education.