Afghan women’s cricket team captain Nahida Sapan hoped that Thursday’s charity match in Australia would ignite “a movement for change”—the team’s first match since escaping the Taliban three years ago.
When the Taliban gained power in August 2021, hundreds of female athletes left Afghanistan to avoid their strict policies, which effectively outlawed women’s education and athletics.
The majority of the national women’s cricket team relocated to Australia as refugees, and they played a charity match in Melbourne on Thursday, their first time back together.
“Together, we’re building not just a team; we’re building a movement for change and promise,” Sapan stated prior to the match.
“We’re really excited about this game because it could lead to opportunities for Afghan women.
