King Charles meets exiled Afghan women cricketers
In a strong gesture of solidarity, King Charles III welcomed the exiled Afghan women’s cricket team to Clarence House on Wednesday, offering public support to a group of athletes who are no longer allowed to represent their country under Taliban rule.The meeting came as the players, most of whom fled Afghanistan after the Taliban returned to power in 2021, arrived in England to take part in a series of exhibition matches alongside the ongoing Women’s T20 World Cup.For the Afghan cricketers, the royal audience was about more than just cricket.
“It’s all about the women back home.”
The players used the occasion to highlight the plight of Afghan women, who continue to face sweeping restrictions on education, employment and sports under the Taliban regime.Aqeel Latifi, who fled Afghanistan during the 2021 evacuations at the age of 17 and has not seen her family in five years, said the team carries the hopes of countless women still trapped by restrictions.“It’s all about Afghan women in our country,” Latifi said, stressing that every team appearance is a reminder of the opportunities denied to women in Afghanistan.She added that cricket had become more than just a sport for her, but rather a symbol of resilience and perseverance.
Warm welcome from King Charles
The king seemed very interested in the stories of the athletes, and asked about their travels outside Afghanistan, their families, and the challenges they faced as athletes.“I’m very glad you can pursue what you want to do,” King Charles told the team.“If I lose, you can blame me for interrupting your training,” the king said jokingly, keeping his mood calm.The players later presented him with a signed team jersey and pinned an Afghan Women’s XI badge to his suit during a photo shoot in the gardens of Clarence House.
A team that should not exist
The Afghan women’s cricket team occupies a unique and heartbreaking place in world sport. While the Afghan men’s team continues to compete internationally, the women’s team has been effectively erased from official cricket under Taliban policies banning women’s participation in the sport.Since then, most of the team have rebuilt their lives overseas, with many settling in Australia as refugees. Despite their displacement, they continue to train and play, hoping to one day return to international cricket under the Afghan flag.
“We are here to fight for them”
Team member Shabnam Sanahsan expressed her disappointment at not being able to participate in the Women’s T20 World Cup because the team lacks official recognition.“In Afghanistan, women have no right to play cricket, or even go out or study or anything else,” she said.“We are here to play cricket, but it is not just cricket. We are here to fight for them, and that means a lot to us.”One of the light moments of the meeting came when Latifi, who is learning English, put the king in an embarrassing position when she asked him to teach her the word “luxury.”Suggesting the word “toilet” as an example, she briefly left the king speechless before he laughed and replied: “I need advance warning of that.”The exchange drew smiles, but the team’s broader message remained clear: their struggle extends beyond the borderline.
More than cricket
For the 11th Afghan Women’s Team, the royal meeting represents international recognition of the struggle that has become a symbol of the broader struggle for women’s rights in Afghanistan.While they continue to play exhibition matches away from home, their ultimate dream remains unchanged – to officially compete on the world stage and represent Afghanistan once again under their national flag.With King Charles publicly standing by their side, their call for visibility and equality gained a more influential voice.
