Melbourne, Jan. 30 -- Female cricketers from Afghanistan hope their first competitive match in Australia will "open doors for Afghan women for education, sport and future".
An Afghanistan Women's XI played a 20-over exhibition match against Cricket Without Borders at Melbourne's Junction Oval on Thursday, before the Women's Ashes Test between Australia and England at the nearby Melbourne Cricket Ground, the BBC reported.
More than 20 members of the Afghanistan national team have been in Australia since the Taliban's return to power in 2021, because female participation in sport in the country has effectively been outlawed.
But they are now hoping to send a message of hope and positivity to their country.
"We are going to represent milli...