Afghanistan’s female cricketer Firouza Amiri has appealed to the men’s team to support the country’s war-torn women. After the Taliban seized power in 2021, Amiri was one of the women who fled Afghanistan after a law was enacted banning women from studying, working and participating in sports.
Amiri, who currently plays club cricket for Australia, has never given up hope of representing his country at least once, but with the current Afghanistan Cricket Board, that seems impossible. Amiri said the men’s team has gained enough popularity to help women in the Asian country thrive.
“They are in a good position in the world at the moment and if they start supporting us, it will have a huge impact on our team. They are very, very helpful to us and to all women. “If women can start playing sports, women can also start studying,” Amiri said on ESPNcricinfo’s Powerplay podcast.
“If they support us, it will be a path for all women. If you can hear me from here, to all the Afghans, to all the national players, please, now Be an advocate for girls. Do more for us. Start doing something for women. You are the voice of Afghanistan. They can now be voices for millions of girls,” Amiri said.
“Don’t put yourself in danger”
Due to Afghanistan’s resistance in women’s cricket, Australia and England have refused to play bilateral cricket with Afghanistan. Australia extends a helping hand to Afghanistan Women’s T20 match between Afghanistan Women’s National Team and Cricket Without Borders at Melbourne’s Junction Oval on January 30, ahead of day-night Women’s Remains Test at Melbourne Cricket Ground I arranged it.
Amiri hoped that pressure from other boards could pave the way for women’s cricket to flourish in Afghanistan. “If it can influence our team and put pressure on the Afghanistan Cricket Board to create a women’s team, we will be happy, but that’s not how we start playing cricket. Only if it becomes,” Amiri added.
Amiri also acknowledged that speaking up for women on the Afghan men’s team could pose a danger to them. “We know there have always been some challenges for them as well. Some of their families are still in Afghanistan. We don’t want you to be at risk.” said Amiri.
Last year, 17 Afghan women cricketers signed with ACB in 2020 wrote to the ICC asking for support in establishing a team in Australia. As far as the men’s team is concerned, they have been playing top-level cricket, defeating top teams and even reaching the semi-finals of the 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup to be held in West Indies and America.
