The Welcome Project: Cricket NSW, Cricket Australia provide Afghan refugee community program

On the surface, Afghanistan and Australia may not have a lot in common. However, our shared love for cricket will play a key role in welcoming hundreds of Afghan evacuees to Sydney.

In September, the world collectively held its breath as it saw confronting scenes of people swarming runways at Afghanistan’s Kabul Airport following the Taliban takeover, with hundreds of families desperately searching for an escape route.

Three months on, more than 10000 Afghan evacuees have landed on Australian shores.

Many are now being welcomed to Australia through a shared love of cricket.

A number of the refugees were down at Bankstown Oval in Sydney’s southwest on Tuesday.

Youngsters enjoy their new cricket gear following the launch of The Welcome Project. Picture: Jonathan Ng

A partnership between Cricket Australian, Cricket NSW and Settlement Services International has seen the launch of ‘The Welcome Project’, a community engagement program to help Afghanistan refugees settle into their new Aussie home through the country’s quintessential summer sport.

The program will see refugees matched with everyday Australians to help form community connections and bridge the cultural divide.

Settlement Services International CEO Violet Roumeliotis said cricket was the perfect platform to welcome evacuees as the sport is a much-loved cultural institution in both Australia and Afghanistan.

“Cricket can be utilised as a launch pad for meaningful social connection and as a vehicle for supporting our Afghan evacuees to reach successful settlement outcomes across the whole spectrum of their lives,” she said.

Afghan refugee Tahir Sadeq, who arrived in Australia with his wife and children in September, said he was excited to take part in the program.

“I like watching cricket and like the sport,” he said. “It’s something you do with family and friends.”

The initiative was launched by NSW Sports and Multiculturalism Minister Natalie Ward. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Cricket Australia executive general manager of community cricket James Allsopp said the partnership would also benefit the sport at a grassroots level.

“Through our shared love of cricket there is a real opportunity not only for Australian cricket clubs to help Afghan evacuees rebuild their lives, but for those clubs to be enriched by the inclusion of those they embrace,” Mr Allsopp said.

NSW Sport and Multiculturalism Minister Natalie Ward, who officially launched the initiative, said the state had warmly opened its arms to 1000 refugees.

“It is wonderful to see some of the Afghan evacuees have the opportunity to enjoy a peaceful game of cricket in their new backyard,” she said.

“No matter where you are from, sport brings everyone together and this is a wonderful way we can make them feel welcome.”