King meets women's cricket team that is not allowed to exist

King meets women's cricket team that is not allowed to existImage source, PA MediaImage caption, The King met the Afghan women's cricket team and faced a tricky questionBySean CoughlanRoyal correspondentPublished16 minutes agoKing Charles has given a symbolic show of support for the Afghan women's cricket team - which is now in exile and, because of the Taliban regime's ban on women's sport, is not allowed to represent its country.The women told him how they escaped the Taliban in Afghanistan to keep their dreams of playing cricket alive."I'm so glad that you can pursue what you want to do," the King told the cricketers, giving them an enthusiastic welcome in Clarence House on a scorching morning.Cricketer Ekil Latifi, who has not seen her family in Afghanistan for five years, said the team was representing all the women not allowed to play sport, adding: "It's all about the Afghan women back in our country."King Charles has met many touring sports teams - but this was unusual in being a team that is not officially allowed to exist.The Taliban block on women's sport meant that Afghanistan's national cricket team for women was no longer allowed to take part in official competitions as representatives of the country.Most of the team has now left Afghanistan, with the majority becoming refugees in Australia.The King was showing his backing as the team arrived to play some exhibition matches, taking place while the women's T20 World Cup is hosted this summer in England."If you lose, you can blame me for interrupting your training," he told them.Image source, ReutersImage caption, The King was showing his support for a team that cannot play in the World CupLatifi, who left her own country in 2021 at the age of 17, during the evacuations from Afghanistan, wants the team to inspire women who are blocked from playing sport.The cricket team's survival - and this royal meeting - was a chance...