The governing board of the International Cricket Council (ICC) has endorsed the continuation of the Development Pathway Programme for Afghan refugee women cricketers and reconstituted its Special Task Force, assigning it the mandate to chart a roadmap for the players to enter ICC qualification pathways by 2030. The decision was taken at the ICC Annual Conference in Edinburgh and announced on 13 July.

Key Developments from the ICC Board

The ICC Board approved the appointment of two new members to the Special Task Force: Dr. Ros Rivaz, ICC Independent Director, and Sarah Keane, ICC Chief Executives' Committee member. They join existing Task Force representatives from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Cricket Australia, and the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB). The expanded body will oversee the programme with a focus on balancing exposure, representation, and competitive standards for the players.

What the Programme Involves

The programme provides Afghan refugee women cricketers with continued access to cricket and strength-and-conditioning coaches, as well as physiotherapy support in their home locations. Players currently based in Australia, England, and Canada will continue to be integrated into local cricket environments. Game time will be increased in a phased manner, with collective training and touring opportunities — similar to tours facilitated to India and England over the past year — planned against opposition strategically chosen to accelerate development toward ICC qualification events.

What the Task Force Members Said

Dr. Ros Rivaz said: 'I am honoured to join the ICC Special Task Force and contribute to this important initiative. The Task Force has been entrusted with developing a clear and sustainable roadmap that supports the continued development of Afghan refugee women cricketers through structured coaching, meaningful competitive opportunities, and appropriate high-performance pathways. This programme reflects the ICC's commitment to fostering opportunity through cricket, and I look forward to working alongside my fellow Task Force members and delivery partners to ensure it is delivered with purpose, integrity, and long-term sustainability.'

Mel Jones, former Australia international and co-founder of It's Game On, said: 'The continued support for these remarkable women, alongside a clear roadmap towards ICC qualification pathways by 2030, represents an important commitment to their future. It sends a powerful message that talent and determination deserve opportunity.'

Voices from the Players

Nahida Sapan, one of the Afghan refugee women cricketers in the programme, said: 'This programme has already made a real difference to us, not only by helping us continue playing cricket, but by enabling us to come together and play as a team. We appreciate the recognition that we have the same rights and opportunities as players of other countries.'

Firooza Afghan, another participant, said: 'Over the past year, the opportunities to come together as a group and tour India and England have provided us with some of the most memorable experiences in our lives. A long-term view of participation in ICC qualification pathways gives us a clear goal to work towards, and we are determined to make the most of every opportunity along that journey.'

Significance and What Comes Next

The initiative comes amid the broader exclusion of Afghan women from organised sport under the Taliban administration, which seized control of Afghanistan in 2021. The ICC's structured, long-term commitment — with a concrete 2030 target — marks a step beyond humanitarian gesture toward genuine sporting integration. The phased increase in competitive exposure, combined with the reconstituted Task Force, signals that the ICC intends to treat this as a governance priority rather than a peripheral programme. How quickly the players can bridge the competitive gap with established ICC member nations will be the defining test of the roadmap's ambition.