THE England men’s team have donated £20,000 to support the exiled Afghanistan women’s side.

The money has been paid from the Team England Player Partnership fund to MCC’s global refugee cricket fund, which hopes to raise £1 million.

Women’s sport has been outlawed in Afghanistan as part of a human rights assault by the Taliban regime and the country’s leading female players have been forced to flee.

There was significant political pressure placed on England to forfeit their Champions Trophy fixture against Afghanistan last month but the England and Wales Cricket Board resisted, instead lobbying behind the scenes for a collective international response.

Now the players’ group has made its own move.

Daryl Mitchell, chair of the Professional Cricketers Association and a TEPP board member, said: “Having spent time in Pakistan with the England team during the Champions Trophy, it was apparent that the wider squad wanted to offer their support having been made aware of the Global Refugee Cricket Fund.

“The MCC and MCC Foundation should be applauded for the creation of the initiative, and I am sure the donation from the players will support its goal to use cricket to bring a smile to the faces of those who have been displaced across the world.”