Mel Jones, a former Australian cricketer, led a daring rescue operation to evacuate the Afghan women's cricket team from the Taliban's rule in 2021. The documentary 'Cricket's Forgotten Team' chronicles their harrowing journey and the ongoing struggle for recognition.
Mel Jones , a former Australian cricketer, found herself in an extraordinary situation – orchestrating a daring escape for the Afghan women's cricket team amidst the Taliban 's takeover of Afghanistan in 2021. What started as a TV commentary turned into a real-life espionage mission, reminiscent of a Jason Bourne film, as Jones rallied a team of volunteers to rescue the players and their families.
Among the 19 players who embarked on the harrowing journey to Australia was Firooza Amiri, who vividly remembers the constant fear during their escape. Traveling through eight checkpoints, they clung to the flimsy excuse of attending a 'family wedding' and 'taking their mother for medical care in Pakistan'. Amiri marvels at how their fabricated stories convinced the authorities. Three and a half years later, she and her teammates took to the field at Melbourne's Junction Oval for their first official match since their daring exodus, marking another milestone in their remarkable journey. Jones, who established a 'backyard immigration service', played a pivotal role in securing emergency humanitarian visas, financial assistance, and safe passage for the players and their families. This triumphant return to the sport they cherish remains bittersweet. The specially designed badge on their kits, instead of an official crest, serves as a potent reminder that their fight to be recognized continues. The International Cricket Council (ICC) yet to officially acknowledge them as a national side. A new BBC documentary, 'Cricket's Forgotten Team', sheds light on their ordeal, featuring interviews with the players and the individuals who courageously facilitated their escape. Amiri recounts her chilling experience, fearing for her life when the Taliban returned to power. She witnessed the immediate threat posed to the women's cricket team and knew they had to flee for their safety. The Taliban's oppressive regime banned women from education, sports, and public spaces, silencing their voices and enforcing strict limitations on their lives. Amiri's family received direct threats from the Taliban, adding to the intensity of their desperate situation. Meanwhile, thousands of miles away, Mel Jones, in quarantine in Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic, received a message from an Indian journalist inquiring about the Afghan cricket team's plight. The players had sought help from the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) but were met with silence.Jones, driven by compassion and her own experience as a champion cricketer, contacted one of the players and offered her assistance. The player urgently requested help for the entire team and backroom staff. Jones, drawing upon her network of contacts, enlisted the support of volunteers, including Emma Staples, her former colleague from Cricket Victoria, and Dr Catherine Ordway, who had expertise in evacuating Afghan athletes. Together, they formed a dedicated team, establishing a complex system that facilitated visas, transportation, and financial aid. They managed to evacuate 120 people, primarily to Pakistan and then onward to Dubai, where they boarded flights to Australia.
Documentary International News Cricket Afghanistan Taliban Mel Jones Escape Evacuation Documentary Women's Cricket ICC
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