The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has called for a unified approach regarding Afghanistan amid growing calls for the England men’s team to boycott their Champions Trophy match against Afghanistan next month.
England is set to play Afghanistan in Lahore on 26 February, but UK politicians have urged the team to refuse the match, citing the Taliban regime’s assault on women’s rights.
A letter to the ECB, written by Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi and signed by figures such as Reform UK leader Nigel Farage and former Labour leaders Jeremy Corbyn and Lord Kinnock, called for a boycott to “send a clear signal” that “such grotesque abuses will not be tolerated.”
Since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, women’s participation in sport has been effectively banned, forcing many female Afghan players to flee the country. ICC regulations require full members to have women’s teams and pathways, yet Afghanistan’s men’s team has faced no sanctions and continues to compete in ICC tournaments.
In response to the letter, ECB chief executive Richard Gould said:
“The ECB is committed to finding a solution which upholds the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan.
“While there has not been a consensus on further international action within the ICC, the ECB will continue to actively advocate for such measures.
“A coordinated, ICC-wide approach would be significantly more impactful than unilateral actions by individual members.”
Gould reiterated the ECB’s policy of not scheduling bilateral matches with Afghanistan but did not confirm whether England would boycott the Champions Trophy fixture. Unlike bilateral games, tournaments like the Champions Trophy are organized by the ICC, which has permitted Afghanistan’s participation.
Australia has boycotted several bilateral series against Afghanistan in recent years but faced them in the 2023 ODI World Cup and 2024 T20 World Cup.
Gould added that the ECB would work with the UK government, other boards, and the ICC to explore ways to effect change while acknowledging differing perspectives.
“We understand the concerns raised by those who believe that a boycott of men’s cricket could inadvertently support the Taliban’s efforts to suppress freedoms and isolate Afghan society,” Gould said.
“It’s crucial to recognise the importance of cricket as a source of hope and positivity for many Afghans, including those displaced from the country.”
The UK Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) is also engaging with the ECB on the wider issue of Afghanistan women’s cricket.
“We are deeply concerned by the appalling erosion of women’s and girls’ rights in Afghanistan,” a DCMS spokesperson said.
“We welcome the fact that the ECB are making representations to the ICC on this wider issue and what support can be given.”
Afghanistan’s women’s cricket team, established in 2010, saw significant setbacks following the Taliban’s return to power in 2021. In 2020, 25 female cricketers received contracts from the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB), but progress ended after the Taliban’s resurgence. Over 20 female cricketers have since fled Afghanistan and are now in Australia.
England and Afghanistan have previously met only in ICC tournaments, including a loss for England at the 2023 ODI World Cup. The 2024 Champions Trophy will run from 19 February to 9 March in Pakistan and Dubai, with England, Afghanistan, Australia, and South Africa in Group B, while Group A features Pakistan, India, New Zealand, and Bangladesh.
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Name of Author: Cricexec Staff
