Afghan women's cricketers have accused overseas players signing up for the inaugural Afghanistan Premier League of sending a message to the world that women suffering in the country "can simply be ignored".

Women's participation in sport has been effectively outlawed since the Taliban's return to power in 2021, and many of Afghanistan's female cricketers left the country for their own safety.

The men's franchise league is expected to start in December in the UAE, though it is yet to be sanctioned by the International Cricket Council (ICC).

In September, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) urged players to reconsider their involvement and batter Ollie Pope withdrew.

"For five years, girls in Afghanistan have been denied the right to play cricket and many other basic rights," Nahida Sapan, who captained the Afghanistan Refugee Women's XI on this summer's tour of England, told the BBC Stumped podcast.

"Foreign players had a real opportunity to stand with millions of Afghan women and girls by choosing not to participate.

"It may have seemed like a small action, but it could have sent a powerful message and put pressure on those responsible.

"This is not about being against cricket or Afghan men's cricket. It is about standing up for basic human rights."

Eight English players were signed in the draft on Tuesday, alongside players from Scotland, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.

England's Alex Hales, Tymal Mills, Joe Clarke, Olly Stone, Moeen Ali, Luke Wood, Tom Moores and Chris Wood were all signed. Scotland's George Munsey also secured a deal, as did Ireland all-rounder Curtis Campher.

Other England players including Dawid Malan and James Vince also put their names into the draft.

England will have more overseas representation than any other country in the Afghan league.

The major names signed from other nations include Sri Lanka internationals Kusal Perera, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dushmantha Chameera and Kamindu Mendis, Australian batter D'Arcy Short, South Africa spinner Imran Tahir and Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan.

The ECB has refused to schedule bilateral cricket with Afghanistan since the Taliban returned to power - a stance Australia also adopts.

England have, however, continued to play against Afghanistan at global events, including World Cups in both limited-overs formats and the Champions Trophy, which resulted in calls from MPs for their game in 2025 to be boycotted.

"For me, the women and girls of Afghanistan come first," said Sapan. "Their rights, dignity and freedom matter more than any league or sporting opportunity.

"Taking part in this league without acknowledging what is happening to Afghan women risks sending the message to the world that their suffering can simply be ignored."

'We should never remain silent'

Afghanistan's women's players have repeatedly called on the ICC to recognise them once again as an international team, and commit to long-term funding.

Without official ICC recognition, they play as the Afghan Refugee Women's Team.

In April 2025, the ICC - together with the cricket boards of England, Australia and India - announced a joint programme to provide financial support for the players, and that funding was extended in July.

"To every international player considering participating in this league, I believe there is a responsibility to ask difficult questions," said batter Firooza Amiri.

"You have the freedom to choose where you play, which organisations you represent and which competitions you participate in, but that freedom also comes with a responsibility to understand the systems you may be helping to support.

"I am not asking international players to turn their backs on the people of Afghanistan. I am asking them to recognise the difference between supporting Afghan people and legitimising a system that has systematically taken away women's rights."

Afghanistan men's team has retained full ICC membership despite the country's inability to meet the membership requirement of supporting a women's national side.

Amiri said their stance was not about withdrawing support for the Afghanistan men's team.

"Imagine your daughter, your sister or your wife being told that she cannot attend school simply because she is a woman," she said. "Imagine being told that she cannot play sport, pursue her ambitions or participate in public life.

"We cannot celebrate the development of cricket in Afghanistan while ignoring the complete exclusion of half of its population from the game.

"The question is whether the international cricket community is prepared to stand by its own values when it comes to Afghan women."