Afghanistan's women cricketers on Thursday played their first game since fleeing the Taliban three years ago, a charity match in Australia that captain Nahida Sapan said she hoped would spark "a movement for change".

The exiled Afghanistan womens cricket team is set to face Cricket Without Borders XI in Melbourne at the Junction Oval on Thursday January 30; Afghanistans coach has said the historic fixture is more

Cricketer Firooza Amiri says her team will "represent millions of women in Afghanistan who are denied their rights” when the side reunites after more than three years for an exhibition game in Australia on Thursday.

There is growing pressure on England to boycott February’s Champions Trophy match against Afghanistan, but for those living under Taliban rule cricket provides “a moment of peace in a lifetime of struggles”.

An Afghanistan Women's XI will play a Cricket Without Borders XI in the match at Melbourne's Junction Oval. It will bring together 21 female players who were formerly contracted by the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) before the Taliban regime re-took control in August 2021.

Afghanistan female cricketers said Thursday's exhibition match in Australia will be a "historic moment" and that the team will "represent millions of women" back home denied their rights. The Afghan team reunites after more than three years for an exhibition game against a Cricket Without Borders XI at Melbourne’s Junction Oval.

A Twenty20 cricket contest featuring a women’s team made up of refugees from Afghanistan who now live in Australia may “only” be an exhibition game, but it could be the beginning of something much more.