A refugee women’s cricket team from Afghanistan has been forced by the Taliban to tour England next month

Displaced Afghan women cricketers will tour England next month in a major step in their bid to revive their cricket careers after the Taliban’s return to power forced them out of sport and public life.The refugee Afghan team will include players previously contracted to the Afghanistan Cricket Board who later left the country after being “systematically excluded from sport and public life” by the Taliban, according to the England and Wales Cricket Board.The tour will begin on June 22 and will include 20 matches, training sessions and a chance for the players to take part in the Women’s World Cup T20 final at Lord’s Cricket Ground on July 5.The ECB said the tour “has significant cultural and sporting significance”.“This tour represents not only an opportunity for them to compete as a team,” the ECB said, “but also a moment when cricket in this country stands up for the inclusion and protection of women’s participation in the sport.”Most of the players from Afghanistan later settled in Australia, where they continued to play domestic cricket but were left without access to international matches, despite International Cricket Council rules requiring all full members to support both men’s and women’s teams.The players have repeatedly asked the International Cricket Council to recognize them as a refugee team.Their return to cricket was promoted by consultancy firm “It’s Game On”, co-founded by former Australian cricketer Mel Jones.“These players have shown extraordinary courage and commitment to the game, despite all that has been taken from them,” Jones said in an ECB statement.“He deserves more opportunities like this, he deserves recognition as part of the global cricket community.”Jones also called for more plans to be made for “sustained and meaningful action beyond this year.”ECB deputy chief executive Clare Connor said cricket had a “responsibility to stand up for inclusion and opportunity”.“We are proud to host this tour,” said Connor, “and support players in deepening their connection to the game.”