The BBC News Network has reported that the International Cricket Council (ICC) is on the verge of extending the budget for the Afghanistan women’s cricket team.
According to BBC sources, a special working group responsible for overseeing this project convened at its annual meeting in Edinburgh, Scotland, and recommended continued financial support for the team.
The report states that Imran Khwaja, the deputy chairman of the ICC, is expected to formally present this proposal at the upcoming meeting of the council’s board.
The proposal reportedly has the backing of the cricket boards of England, Australia, and India, which is why it is not anticipated to face serious opposition from board members.
Additionally, these three entities are calling for the ICC to take a greater share in funding and resources for this program and to play a more active role in its advancement.
Sources have told the BBC that one of the topics under discussion is the duration of this financial support.
Although a final decision has not yet been made, it is likely that the budget for this team will be extended until 2032, providing players with long-term support.
However, the sporting future of the team remains uncertain.
According to the BBC, the ICC board is also set to review a document prepared by Clare Connor, the chair of the ICC Women’s Cricket Committee.
This document suggests that the Afghanistan women’s team be allowed to participate in official international competitions.
As reported by the BBC, this matter is considered one of the most sensitive cases for the ICC because, on one hand, the organization is in contact with officials from the Afghanistan Cricket Board, which operates under the current caretaker government, and on the other hand, there are concerns about the potential implications of such a decision on the future of men’s cricket in Afghanistan.
Nonetheless, bringing up the issue of official participation for the Afghanistan women’s team at the board level is seen as an important step toward initiating further discussions about the future of this team.
Members of the Afghan women’s refugee cricket team, now based in Australia, have repeatedly urged the ICC in recent years to recognize them as an international team and ensure sustainable financial support.
Last month, they also requested a “clear response” regarding their future from the organization.
The team left the country following the return of the current government to power in 2021 and is currently living and training in Australia.
