The Global Refugee Cricket Fund - Afghan Women

We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to play, belong, and thrive, no matter where they are from or what they have been through. The Global Refugee Cricket Fund was created to support displaced players and communities worldwide, using cricket as a tool for safety, connection, and opportunity.

One of the first initiatives supported by the Fund focuses on Afghan women cricketers who were forced to flee their country after women’s sport was banned. Members of the former national women’s team have since resettled in countries including Australia, Canada, and the UK, where they are rebuilding their lives in exile while striving to stay connected to the game they love.

Through the fund’s support, these players are now part of a programme that provides safe training spaces, mentoring, education, and pathways back into organised cricket. The initiative ensures that women who lost access to sport are not only able to keep playing, but are also supported to develop confidence, community, and future opportunity through cricket.

This work reflects the wider purpose of the Global Refugee Cricket Fund: to ensure that displacement does not end a young person’s sporting journey or sense of belonging. By investing in refugee-led and refugee-focused cricket initiatives, the Fund helps create environments where cricket becomes a source of stability, pride, and hope.