Afghan women cricketers say they left their country because they are women who want to play sports, adding that there is no longer any space for female athletes in Afghanistan.
Firooza Amiri, one of the Afghan athletes who is no longer allowed to play in the country due to restrictions imposed by the current regime, has now formed a cricket team in Australia alongside other Afghan girls. In an interview with India Today, she said:
“I left my country because I am a woman who wants to play sports. There is no place for female athletes in Afghanistan anymore.”
These cricket players, who trained and competed for years, can no longer participate in tournaments or even practice.
Firooza Amiri emphasized: “When the restrictions began, our training sessions were canceled, the national team’s matches were stopped, and we were told we could no longer play. That was extremely difficult for me and my teammates.”
She added that after receiving threats and facing insecurity, she and her teammates applied for asylum and were relocated to Australia.
She noted that with the support of organizations aiding refugees and athletes, they were able to re-establish the Afghan women’s cricket team in Australia.
These girls say: “This team now serves not only for playing cricket but also for delivering messages about women’s rights and highlighting the importance of women’s freedom in sports in Afghanistan.”
The athletes also stated: “We do not want to be seen as victims. We want to prove that Afghan women are capable and can succeed in any field.”
With hope, one of them said: “We miss our homeland, but we want to be the voice of Afghan women through cricket. We hope to one day play again in our own country and witness freedom and progress for women.”
The formation of this new team has received support from several international human rights organizations and global athletes.
It should be noted that since the current regime took power, strict laws against women have been imposed. Women are banned from entering stadiums, and participation in many sports disciplines has been prohibited for women.
