logo
'With this, we can hope' - Afghan cricketers play first match

'With this, we can hope' - Afghan cricketers play first match

Yahoo30-01-2025

Female cricketers from Afghanistan hope their first competitive match in Australia will "open doors for Afghan women for education, sport and future".
An Afghanistan Women's XI played a 20-over exhibition match against Cricket Without Borders at Melbourne's Junction Oval on Thursday, before the Women's Ashes Test between Australia and England at the nearby Melbourne Cricket Ground.
More than 20 members of the Afghanistan national team have been in Australia since the Taliban's return to power in 2021, as female participation in sport in the country has effectively been outlawed.
But they are now hoping to send a message of hope and positivity to their country.
"We are going to represent millions of Afghan women who are in Afghanistan and denied their rights," player Firoza Amiri told Cricket Australia before the match.
"It's very special for all of us to get back together after three years, leaving everything and losing everything back home in Afghanistan."
In 2020, 25 players were given professional contracts by the Afghanistan Cricket Board but after the Taliban returned and they could no longer play or train safely, they had asked the International Cricket Council (ICC) for permission to play as a refugee team, but this was denied.
For the exhibition match, the side could not play under the name of Afghanistan women because they are not recognised as a national team by the ICC and they had to wear a custom-made kit as opposed to the official logo.
Benafsha Hashimi, one of the Afghan players, designed the logo which depicted a red tulip and a golden wattle - the national flowers of Australia and Afghanistan - entwined around a cricket ball.
'The ICC did nothing for us' - Afghan cricketer Amiri
Knight wants ICC to help 'forgotten' Afghanistan
There are two sets of players in Australia, based in Melbourne and Canberra, and the match saw them unite for the first time since their arrival.
Many of the players did not speak English when they arrived but had to learn it to help them settle and apply for jobs.
Player Nahida Sapan says that the players are always playing for more than just themselves.
"We play for Afghanistan, it means a lot for Afghan women because with this, they can and we can hope," Sapan told Cricket Australia.
"This match can open doors for Afghan women for education, sport and future.
"We are building not just a team, we are building a movement for change and improvement."
An ICC working group, set up after the Taliban takeover in 2021, has met with representatives of the Afghanistan government and is keen to use its position and the sport of cricket to influence change in the country.
"The ICC remains closely engaged with the situation in Afghanistan and continues to collaborate with our members," it said in a statement.
The governing body added it was their intention to "support the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) in fostering cricket development and ensuring playing opportunities for both men and women in Afghanistan".
Its stance is that the ACB is not in control of government policy and therefore players should not be punished for it.
There have been calls for teams to boycott fixtures against Afghanistan men's team, who England are due to meet in next month's Champions Trophy.
Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi said England's players should use their "power" to "make a difference". However, captain Jos Buttler said "I don't think a boycott is the way to go about it".
Get cricket news sent straight to your phone

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

🚨 Oviedo reach the play-off final for promotion to LaLiga
🚨 Oviedo reach the play-off final for promotion to LaLiga

Yahoo

timean hour ago

  • Yahoo

🚨 Oviedo reach the play-off final for promotion to LaLiga

Real Oviedo will play the final of the promotion playoff to the First Division after surpassing Almería in a thrilling eliminatoria. The carbayones, who made good on their win in the first leg, sealed their pass thanks to a great direct free kick goal by Santi Cazorla, which tipped the balance in the Tartiere. This result puts Oviedo one step away from the dream of returning to the top category for the second consecutive year. At 40 years old, Cazorla was the hero of the night. Just three minutes after taking to the field, he provoked a foul on the edge of the area and turned it into a masterful goal, neutralizing Melero's penalty goal for Almería. Advertisement His flash of quality revived Oviedo, who suffered in the first half against an Indálico team that put nerves on edge with its pressure and chances. Almería, despite its insistence, could not come back and closes its season without the longed-for return to the First Division. Meanwhile, Veljko Paunovic's Oviedo remains unstoppable, accumulating 12 unbeaten games since the arrival of the Serbian coach. The carbayones are now waiting for their opponent in the grand final, with their morale sky-high after this feat. This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.

Club World Cup: Jack Grealish left out of Man City squad
Club World Cup: Jack Grealish left out of Man City squad

Yahoo

timean hour ago

  • Yahoo

Club World Cup: Jack Grealish left out of Man City squad

MIAMI (AP) — Jack Grealish has been left out of Manchester City's squad for the Club World Cup. City manager Pep Guardiola named a 27-man squad for the tournament, which kicks off in Miami on Saturday, with Grealish a notable omission. Advertisement The England forward was a British record signing when he moved to City from Aston Villa for 100 million pounds ($139 million then) in 2021 and went on to help the club win three Premier League titles, the Champions League and a host of other trophies. But he has become an increasingly peripheral figure and made only seven league starts last season. The 29-year-old Grealish's absence from the Club World Cup will add to the growing expectation that he will leave during the offseason, with Guardiola embarking on a squad rebuild following the team's first trophyless season in eight years. City's squad includes four new players signed in time to take part in the month-long tournament in the United States: Rayan Cherki, Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Ait-Nouri and Marcus Bettinelli. Advertisement In January, City also spent big to sign Omar Marmoush, Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis as Guardiola began his overhaul of a squad that saw its dominance of English soccer broken by Liverpool last season. If Grealish goes, he is likely to be one of a number of players to move on. Kevin De Bruyne is leaving at the end of his contract this month and Kyle Walker is also likely to go after a loan move to AC Milan in January; as expected, neither player was in the squad. City's first match at the 32-team tournament is against Wydad Casablanca next Wednesday in Philadelphia. The other teams in the group are Juventus and Abu Dhabi's Al Ain. ___ James Robson is at ___ AP soccer: James Robson, The Associated Press

David Ornstein Confirms Liverpool Striker Move is ‘Possible' After Recent Contact
David Ornstein Confirms Liverpool Striker Move is ‘Possible' After Recent Contact

Yahoo

timean hour ago

  • Yahoo

David Ornstein Confirms Liverpool Striker Move is ‘Possible' After Recent Contact

Liverpool's Forward Focus: Nunez Exit Opens Door for Ekitike After Record-Breaking Wirtz Deal Liverpool's summer window has exploded into life, with business being conducted swiftly and decisively under Arne Slot. Florian Wirtz's arrival, confirmed late Tuesday, will not only obliterate the club's own transfer record but also set new benchmarks across English and German football. At a projected cost of over £115m, it surpasses the Moises Caicedo fee to Chelsea and signals a shift in how the Reds intend to compete. Advertisement As reported by The Athletic's David Ornstein, Wirtz's signing is not the end of Liverpool's spree. 'There is, meanwhile, a possible departure from Merseyside in the form of Darwin Nunez,' Ornstein noted, confirming contact from Al-Hilal for the Uruguayan. While the player is reportedly more inclined to remain in Europe, the financial pull from Saudi Arabia remains a factor. With Wirtz secured and Milos Kerkez close to completing a switch, Liverpool's net summer spend could soon exceed £195m. Yet, there is still desire for a new number nine – and Hugo Ekitike has emerged as the primary target. Ekitike Move Contingent on Outgoings Eintracht Frankfurt's €100m asking price for Ekitike has cooled Chelsea's interest, leaving Liverpool well-positioned – but only if two players depart. As per Sky Germany's Florian Plettenberg, Liverpool must sell two of Diogo Jota, Federico Chiesa or Darwin Nunez before advancing negotiations for the French forward. Photo: IMAGO The strongest indication of an imminent exit centres on Nunez, who has struggled to consistently justify his £85m price tag since joining from Benfica. Al-Hilal's recent inquiry represents a serious push to bring the Uruguayan to the Saudi Pro League, having previously missed out on Mohamed Salah, Bruno Fernandes and Victor Osimhen. Advertisement 'Liverpool rejected a proposal worth €70m from Al Nassr in January, and that sets a minimum bar if an exit is to materialise,' Ornstein wrote. That valuation remains the benchmark if the Reds are to part ways with the 24-year-old. Elliott and Gakpo Future Questions Wirtz's arrival also places questions around the futures of other attackers, particularly Harvey Elliott. The 22-year-old made his stance clear: 'I don't really want to be wasting years of my career because it's a short career.' With Wolves and Newcastle reportedly interested, Elliott's departure would ease squad congestion and raise additional funds. Meanwhile, Cody Gakpo has publicly rejected links to Bayern Munich, while Alisson Becker has reaffirmed his commitment to Anfield, though he has started exploring his next steps, according to reports. Photo: IMAGO Slot's Tactical Evolution Demands Precision Slot's system hinges on high-intensity pressing and fluid attacking movement – a style tailor-made for someone like Wirtz. The German's numbers last season were staggering: 45 appearances, 16 goals and 15 assists. It's a clear statement of intent from Liverpool and an evolution from the more chaotic attacking presence of Nunez. Advertisement Wirtz also represents the most expensive German footballer ever, Bayer Leverkusen's record sale, and the Bundesliga's highest transfer fee to date. It is a transformative deal both on and off the pitch. Our View – Anfield Index Analysis There's a strange inevitability to Darwin Nunez's likely departure. His raw energy and unpredictability created moments of brilliance, but not the consistency a title-winning side demands. With Arne Slot at the helm and Liverpool now reigning champions again, the standards have shifted. Every decision must be calculated, and emotion cannot drive the future. Florian Wirtz is the opposite type of forward – intelligent, composed and ruthlessly efficient. He feels like a player designed for Slot's tactics. His arrival is exciting, but fans will rightly wonder if Liverpool will regret letting Nunez go just as he might have reached his peak. Advertisement The Ekitike interest is intriguing. He's younger, mouldable and potentially a better long-term fit. But can he adapt quickly enough to the Premier League, and will he thrive in the pressure cooker of Anfield? That remains a gamble. Harvey Elliott's frustration is understandable, and while it would hurt to lose a homegrown star, this is a ruthless business now. Wirtz's signing shows Liverpool's hand – trophies are the priority. And if the money from Saudi helps complete that vision, fans may just get behind it, however conflicted they feel.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store