Afghanistan women’s cricketer Firooza Amiri has spoken about how Rashid Khan extended his support to the team during a time of crisis. Amiri is among the Afghan players now living in exile in Australia after fleeing the Taliban regime – a situation that continues to cast uncertainty over Afghanistan’s standing in international cricket.
Rashid was recently asked about the women’s team during his tenure as Afghanistan captain at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. He acknowledged that women’s cricket is an essential requirement for full ICC membership and said he takes pride in seeing Afghans represent the nation on any global stage.
‘YOU KNOW THIS TEAM EXISTS’
Responding to his remarks, Amiri revealed that Rashid had earlier shown tangible support for women’s cricket by helping set up a cricket academy in Kabul, offering encouragement and opportunity to aspiring female cricketers.
“My name is Firooza Amiri, and I was one of the 23 players centrally contracted by the Afghanistan Cricket Board in 2021. That year, the board officially contracted 23 players as members of the Afghanistan national women’s cricket team. We trained in Afghanistan, represented our country, and lived there proudly. Rashid, you were among those who supported cricket development by providing a cricket academy in Kabul. You know this team exists,” Amiri said in a video on her Instagram handle.
WANT TO KEEP PLAYING CRICKET
Amiri described the hardships Afghanistan’s women cricketers have endured since the Taliban regained control of the country in 2021. She spoke about the challenges the players have faced, including displacement and personal loss, and stressed that it is incorrect to claim that Afghanistan does not have a women’s team.
“When the Taliban took control of the country in 2021, the team did not disappear – we were forced into exile. For the past four years, most of the players have been living in Australia. We have continued to train and play here, repeatedly asking for support and visibility. Our request has always been simple: we want to keep playing cricket and represent Afghanistan.
“Many of these players have endured immense hardship. Some have lost their homes, some have lost family members, and others have put their safety at risk simply to continue playing the game they love. It is not right to suggest that there is no women’s team,” Amiri said.
‘WE ARE READY TO TALK’
Amiri also urged Rashid Khan to stand alongside the women’s team. She said the Afghanistan women’s side is ready to engage in dialogue, welcomes his support, and would be open to meeting him as they continue their efforts to represent their country.
“Rashid, we are ready to talk. We welcome your support, and you are invited to reach out and meet the team. To everyone listening, please share this message. If you want to support the continued development of Afghan girls’ and women’s cricket, stand with us. The Afghanistan national women’s cricket team exists,” Amiri added.
While Rashid expressed support for the women’s team, he also acknowledged the limitations players face, noting that such decisions rest with the Afghanistan Cricket Board and the International Cricket Council, not individual cricketers.
Last year, the ICC announced that Afghanistan’s refugee women’s team would receive key engagement opportunities around the Women’s World Cup 2025 in India and Sri Lanka, as well as the upcoming Women’s T20 World Cup in England.
