MELBOURNE, 30 January, 2025: The Afghanistan Women’s XI Vrs Cricket Without Borders XI Cricket exhibition match, Junction Oval, St. Kilda today was a memorable and historic sporting event where the Afghanistan women’s team, which had escaped the Taliban takeover in Kabul in 2021, played their first match. The exhibition match attended by Cricket fans, women’s sports backers, and Cricket Australia among others, gave the message to gender equality and women’s human rights in Afghanistan.
Australia’s Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs, Tim Watts in a statement said: “Australia is very proud to host so many members of the Afghanistan Women’s cricket team. Today we celebrate the team as a symbol of courage and resilience in the face of immense adversity.”
Cricket Australia chief executive Nick Hockley has described the exhibition match as the first small step towards playing international cricket saying it is a ‘real beacon of hope’ that should spark conversations globally, reports espncricinfo.
The Afghan Women’s XI scored 9/103 in 20 overs and Cricket Without Borders XI scored 3/106 in 19. 2 overs, winning the match.
