The team's creation stems from the Taliban's ban on women's sports following their takeover of Afghanistan in 2021, prompting players to flee the country fearing persecution.

Russia said on Thursday it had accepted the credentials of a new ambassador of Afghanistan, making it the first nation to recognise the Taliban government of the country.

Afghanistan had 25 contracted women cricketers in 2020, most of whom have resettled in Australia with humanitarian visas due to restrictions at home under the hardline Taliban government.

Ahead of the contest, more than 160 British politicians have called for England to boycott the game in protest against the Taliban government's restrictions on women's rights in Afghanistan.

Afghan delegation plans to "exchange views with Japanese government officials during their stay"

England and South Africa share the same group with Afghanistan in the One Day International competition and are under pressure to boycott the fixtures in response to the Taliban government’s crackdown on women's rights since returning to power in August 2021.

In October, the ministry announced the commission had identified 400 books "that conflicted with Islamic and Afghan values, most of which have been collected from the markets".

Australia, Canada, Germany and The Netherlands announced in New York they were initiating the proceedings, which could lead to a hearing at the International Court of Justice in The Hague.

The Hashimi siblings are the first cyclists - male or female - to represent Afghanistan at the Games.

Afghanistan's Taliban government does not recognise the three female athletes who will represent the country at the Paris Olympic Games this month, a spokesman for their sports department said.

Afghanistan cricket bosses Wednesday expressed disappointment that Australia had scrapped a men's T20 series because of deteriorating women's rights in the Taliban-ruled country and called for "politics-free cricket".

From pickup games in dusty parks or narrow alleys to high-intensity training at well-kitted academies, young Afghans have cricket fever -- a trend spiked by the surprise performance of the Afghan national team at the recent ODI World Cup.

The Taliban government in Afghanistan said some 60,000 Afghans returned between Sept 23 to Oct 22 from Pakistan, which announced on Oct 4 it will expel undocumented migrants that do not leave.

Women presenters on Afghanistan’s leading news channels went on air yesterday with their faces covered, a day after defying a Taliban order to conceal their appearance on television.

Women presenters on Afghanistan's leading TV channels yesterday went on air without covering their faces, defying a Taliban order that they conceal their appearance to comply with the group's austere brand of Islam.

Taliban authorities in Afghanistan have asked television broadcasters to ensure that female presenters on local stations cover their faces when on air, an official said yesterday.

Taliban militants kill at least 16 Afghan police and two civilians in western Badghis province after their three-day ceasefire for the Eid al-Fitr holiday ended at the weekend, officials say.

A Taliban suicide bomber rams a vehicle filled with explosives into a convoy of foreign forces in Afghanistan's restive southern province of Kandahar, causing casualties, officials say.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani issues an ultimatum to the Taliban, warning them to embrace peace or "face consequences" after announcing that the death toll from last week's devastating truck bombing have passed 150.

Pakistan's parliament amends the constitution to reinstate secret military courts that try civilians charged with terrorism offences, something activists have warned will lead to human rights abuses.