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Cricket games 'historical moment' for Afghan girls

Tom Williams,in Cambridgeand
Louise Parry
News imageTom Williams/BBC Sir Laurie Bristow poses with two rows of the women's cricket team, dressed in black trousers and red T-Shirts. The front row of women kneel. They stand in front of Hughes Hall, which has a white arched door and red brick attractive building. There are blue awnings over some of the windows.Tom Williams/BBC
The Afghan Refugee Women's Cricket Team were at Hughes Hall in Cambridge, with former Afghanistan ambassador Sir Laurie Bristow

An England cricket tour by the Afghanistan Women's team is being hailed as "a historical moment for Afghan girls".

The group, known as the Afghan Refugee Women's Team after the Taliban banned women's sports, play two matches in Cambridge on Saturday at the historic Fenner's ground.

"I hope that as a result of this match, people back in Afghanistan will also hear that the world is with them," said Sir Laurie Bristow, president of Hughes Hall in Cambridge.

Afghan journalist Zahra Joya, who is a bi-fellow at Hughes Hall, said: "Seeing the girls back in the field, I am overwhelmed and joyful."

"Obviously it is heartbreaking that they are denied to represent their country in international competitions.

"It is a historical moment for Afghan girls, that they have this opportunity to play, and it shows their resilience and passion, their desire in sports," she added.

News imageTom Williams/BBC Hughes Hall By-Fellow, Zahra Joya, is an Afghan journalist, founder of Rukshana Media and activist for the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan. She has long dark brown hair and is wearing a blue jacket, white scarf and top. She is standing on a grass sports field.Tom Williams/BBC
Zahra Joya is a journalist and activist for the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan

Joya added: "It's a kind of inspiration for the next generation of young girls in Afghanistan, because if they don't have this backup and support, then they will lose their hope."

The majority of the players fled their home country and settled in Australia, after receiving death threats from the Taliban.

The team has repeatedly called on the International Cricket Council (ICC) to recognise them once again as an international team and commit to long-term funding.

Firooza Amiri, one of the women's team members, said while it had not been an easy journey for any of them, cricket had brought them together and created "some sense of belonging".

"We left Afghanistan without having a choice," she said. "We just left our home country in the most terrifying way possible.

"It was very hard to get settled in Australia, not knowing the language, the culture and the people over there."

News imageTom Williams/BBC Firooza Amiri smiles at the camera while standing next to the cricket pitch. She wears the red T-Shirt of her kit, and a black baseball cap. Her fair hair is tied back. Tom Williams/BBC
Firooza Amiri says her team is 'so grateful' to the England and Wales Cricket Board for its support

The tour in England was "a great opportunity" to play matches but also "to represent our girls in Afghanistan around the world," Amiri said.

"We are here not to just play cricket, we are here to be a voice for the Afghan girls back in Afghanistan. To give them hope that there are some people fighting for them."

"It's been five years that our girls in Afghanistan have been stuck in the Taliban regime.

"It is very hard to see women and girls not having their basic fundamental right of education in sports," she added.

News imageTom Williams/BBC Sir Laurie Bristow smiles at the camera while standing in the grounds of the college, wearing a white open necked shirt and glasses. He is squinting slightly in the sun.Tom Williams/BBC
Sir Laurie Bristow says the cricket match "promises to be a memorable and uplifting occasion"

The team will play five matches during their stay in England and will also attend the Women's T20 World Cup final at Lord's.

On Saturday, they take on the Cambridge University Cricket Club Women's team as well as the UK Armed Forces Women's team at Fenner's.

Sir Laurie said the event had been years in the planning and it was a long-held ambition to get the team playing on the cricket ground where greats of the game, such as England skippers Mike Brearley and Mike Atherton, started their careers.

He added: "The matches are a celebration of women's sport and a recognition of the resilience and achievements of the Afghan women cricketers.

"This match is about saying 'We're with you, we're in solidarity with you, we want to stand with you'."

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