The International Cricket Council will debate the future funding of the Afghanistan women's refugee team at its annual conference next month. The squad, formed after the Taliban’s 2021 takeover, benefitted from a joint programme launched by England, Australia, India and the ICC. Their first competitive outing came in Melbourne in January 2025 and aims to keep the players in competitive cricket.

After travelling to India for last year’s 50‑over World Cup, the side is touring England for a series of developmental T20 fixtures this summer. Those matches provide exposure ahead of the T20 World Cup final at Lord’s, where the team will be present on 11 July. Funding for the programme expires in August, leaving the players’ future uncertain. The games also aid match fitness.

The conference, scheduled to start in Edinburgh on 8 July, will also address cricket’s broader role in refugee integration. Decision‑makers from the three funding boards face pressure to extend support or devise a new model, as the team’s visibility grows alongside the sport’s global expansion. Stakeholders expect a clear funding roadmap by September. The outcome will directly shape the squad’s ability to compete internationally.