King Charles III met with members of the Afghan women's national cricket team, who are no longer permitted to play official games in their country. The meeting, intended to offer public solidarity, highlighted the athletes' struggle to continue their sport.
Ekil Latifi, who left Afghanistan in 2021, stated that she wants the team to inspire women who are prevented from participating in sports. Latifi, now working as a cricket coach, described the sport as a lesson in perseverance. "In life, you get one chance. In cricket, if you're a batter, you might just bat once," she said.
The team's ambition is to be recognized within the official cricketing world and to play under their national flag, mirroring the opportunities available to the men's national team. Team-mate Shabnam Snahsan expressed disappointment that the team could not participate in the recent World Cup.
Snahsan welcomed the public display of support, noting the restrictions faced by women in Afghanistan, who are reportedly denied the right to play cricket, study, or even go out freely. "We're here to play cricket - but it's not just cricket, we're here to fight for them and this has meant a lot for us," she added.