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The exiled cricketers represented their country for the first time in over three years at a historic fixture at the Junction Oval but the occasion was about more than just cricket.
It signified resilience, community and most importantly, the transformative power of sport.
“Everyone knows what we want and that is to keep playing sport,” said Benafsha Hashimi, one of the exiled cricketers.
“This is just the first step for us and we’re making history. We hope that women in Afghanistan see this.
“Despite people not supporting us, we have still grown and it’s because we have other women here supporting each other.”
For Afghanistan, this fixture had always been about more than just the result. It was about reclaiming their sporting dreams despite the terrifying restrictions placed on their lives by the Taliban.
“I hope this game and the opportunity we have in Australia will be a powerful message for Afghanistan women back home,” said Afghanistan all-rounder Tooba Khan Sarwari.
“They are not alone, we are trying to raise our voices and speak on behalf of them.
“We want to talk about our situation and tell the world about what is going on in Afghanistan. We hope this sends a powerful message.”
Sarwari and Hashimi are among a group of 25 players who received the first professional contracts for women from the Afghanistan Cricket Board in 2020.
However, only a year later their dreams would turn into a nightmare after the Taliban banned women from sports, forcing the cricketers to flee for their safety, with some of them having to …
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