Afghan Refugee Women’s cricket team to play in Cambridge on ground-breaking England tour

They will also play a second T20 match against the UK Armed Forces Women’s Team. Both fixtures are open to the public, with no charge.

The tour comes at a time when the world is nearing five years since the fall of Kabul to the Taliban. Since fleeing Afghanistan in 2021, members of the team have rebuilt their lives in exile, with many now based in Australia and continuing to play cricket for community and premier clubs while advocating for the right of Afghan women and girls to participate in sport.

This is an extraordinary moment for the players, many of whom have spent the past five years rebuilding their lives in exile while continuing to pursue their passion for cricket. Their visit to the UK, supported by the England and Wales Cricket Board, is a testament to their resilience, determination and enduring connection to the game.

Touring Afghan player, Shafiqa Khan, told Australia's ABC Sport: "We can represent Afghan women who live back home and be a voice for a million girls who are denied their basic rights and follow their passion."

The President of Hughes Hall, Sir Laurie Bristow, was the UK’s last ambassador to Afghanistan during the fall of the city in August 2021 and the subsequent evacuation. Sir Laurie said:

“Hughes Hall was founded in 1885 to advance the cause of education for women and girls at a time when such opportunities were extremely limited. We are strongly committed to the principle that education and sport should be open to all.

“The matches are a celebration of women’s sport and a recognition of the resilience and achievements of the Afghan women cricketers, as well as providing an opportunity to welcome families, sports fans, university members and the local community to support the teams.

“This promises to be a memorable and uplifting occasion. As a College, we benefit greatly from our location alongside Fenner’s, one of the most historic cricket grounds in the world, and are proud to play a part in welcoming the Afghanistan women to play here.” 

The visiting team will all be accommodated at Murray Edwards, where they will be provided with a substantial 'cricketers' breakfast' ahead of their two fixtures, followed by a celebratory halal dinner after the matches. The College, which was founded in 1954 - as New Hall - to ensure more women could benefit from a Cambridge education, is dedicated to nurturing and celebrating female achievement. 

Dr Rachel Polonsky, Acting President of Murray Edwards, said: “Murray Edwards College is honoured to be hosting the Afghan women’s refugee cricket team during the players’ stay in Cambridge.

“As one of the two colleges for women at the University of Cambridge and indeed in the UK as a whole, we are proud to support women's free participation in sport at all levels, worldwide. We look forward not only to an exciting day of cricket but a wonderful opportunity for both the Cambridge students and Afghan players to meet and forge new bonds.”

The matches will take place on Saturday, 27 June 2026 at Fenner’s Cricket Ground, Cambridge

• 10:30am – Afghan Refugee Women’s Team v Armed Forces Combined Services Women
• 3:00 pm – Cambridge University Cricket Club Women's Team v Afghan Refugee Women’s Team

Both fixtures are open to the public, with no charge. For more information and to book, see: www.hughes.cam.ac.uk/about/events/twenty20-cricket/