The absence of the Afghan women's cricket team in the 2025 World Cup qualifiers; the future of Afghan women's sports remains uncertain

The International Cricket Council announced on Tuesday, (April 8, 2025), that the qualifying matches for the 2025 Women's Cricket World Cup will be hosted by Pakistan. However, no mention was made of the participation of the Afghan women's cricket team in these competitions.

This tournament, which serves as the final stage for qualifying for the Women's Cricket World Cup, will feature teams from six countries, including Bangladesh, Ireland, West Indies, Scotland, Thailand, and Pakistan. The matches are scheduled to take place at Gaddafi Stadium and the Lahore City Cricket Association ground. The absence of the Afghan women's team from this announcement has raised questions about the future of Afghanistan's national women's cricket team.