she was like, "oh, afghanistan fell into taliban." coming back into power would mean that you would have to leave? absolutely, yes. i didn't know that... am i going to survive? and being a cricketer is not easy. to be alive or die?

i burned everything, all my certificates, all my medals. best bowler of the tournament. burned everything, so there's nothing left.

sport and parks. the players knew they had no choice. they had to leave, but they were on their own. i got a message from sharda ugra, who's a journalist the afghanistan women's cricket players and i said, "look, i don't." "and just seeing if they're 0k?" "do you need to get out?"

very keen to look at any way possible of getting out. and then it just snowballed from there. "i have absolutely no idea what i'm doing here," butj

of where she was in pakistan and we'd organised a car, a driver,

what's happening behind - and what they've left behind. survivor's guilt. once the players had safely reached australian soil, used their own money to reunite the group. overwhelming moment. the big one for us was getting the group together, once they got here to australia as well. so, that was another process in terms of getting all the melbourne girls up to canberra, which was one of the most magical days. no amount of money is going to, you know, coverjust the sheer joy it was to see the group reunited and just to hear their stories about how they've managed to sort of land and things like that.

reaching australia was just the first challenge. the players had to learn english, find education and jobs, and process the horror they'd left behind. but one thing remained the same — their love for cricket. and soon they tried to find local coaching so that they could continue playing. many of them found it here at carnegie cricket club. that first training session, just to see their faces light up was incredible. that first training session, just to see their faces light up was incredible. they live and breathe it and cricket was their safe haven and it was just wonderful to be a part of that with them. 0h, they're fun, they're cheeky. they're slowly also picking up a lot of sarcasm from here in australia that we have. they just try to get amongst everything, which was wonderful. and i thinkjust the light that they bring through cricket, itjust really put things into perspective. shabnam was just 14 years old

when she escaped afghanistan. i'm good at my bowling and i'm working on my batting. i am also good at fielding. and my fitness, yeah. fitness is such an important thing, yeah. when i'm playing cricket, it gives me freedom and i feel free. i forgot about all of my worries when i'm playing cricket, yeah. the afghanistan women's team was officially formed

and that's what shines, and you can't teach that. of the biggest dreams. so, now you're in australia, and ipl here.

from the governing body have also fallen on deaf ears. they were asking - two major questions. for our development? which is the very board - that the women have been it is spent.

..as they reached they congratulated the afghan men's team for reaching - that that had happened. they then asked, "we recognise we can no longer be or will- "national team, but we're refugees in australia, -

with the women's team more or supported them.

nations have to have a women's set—up. when they no longer have a women's team?

so, let's sit down, giving the full funds for them to play cricket.

in the icc champions trophy. it caused a political storm. it also reiterated its stance that it will not play

for women in afghanistan. whilst the women continue their fight for recognition,

in their first—ever match. a big bash ground. when i heard about it. dream about it, arm, to play in. and when i heard about it, i felt hope and rebirth.

erm, it was... it's very meaningful to all of us. - we all feel very excitedj and very happy for this, and little love—heart signals coming through on this was really challenging for the girls to hear, -

we were choosing where we're going to field news of the team's upcoming match has caught

and it's notjust the media who want to meet them. indistinct chatter laughter yeah, it's awesome,

so inspirational for us i think, the same day that you guys play here. are you going to come? yeah. �* . that's going to be for them. on the morning of the game, preparations are under way. i'm feeling like- i'm dreaming right now. and most of the girls cried. and we were playing. to play their first—ever game on a ground this size, and i'm super happy.

it was my dream to play in this ground, - it was a moment to reflect. but just the faces and the fact i've got goose bumps,

with our own team, this is more thanjust a game. it's the start of something amazing, and i hope that the rest of the world can see that afghan women can do anything.

these players still have dreams of playing however, one thing is certain. this is a team that refuses to be silenced. they cheer

hello again.

the south—west that's going to continue this afternoon. and across scotland, although we'll have some showers over the grampians this afternoon. 4 to 7 degrees celsius, and outbreaks of rain, that's one to watch. but otherwise a drier night to come.

we could see a spell of snow across scotland in the morning. 3 or 4 degrees further north. as we pick up the south or south—westerly wind. goodbye.

welcome the programme.