England should boycott Champions Trophy cricket against Afghanistan next month, according to a letter signed by more than 160 British politicians.
Politicians want the England and Wales Cricket Board to take a stand against the Taliban regime’s attacks on women’s rights and boycott the men’s ODI against Afghanistan on February 26 in Lahore, Pakistan.
Women’s participation in sport has been effectively outlawed since the Taliban took power in 2021, a move by the Afghanistan Cricket Board that violates International Cricket Council rules.
A strongly worded letter to the British Parliament appealed to the ECB to raise its moral objections because Afghan soldiers could still be contested by the ICC.
The report, written by Labor MP Tonia Antoniazzi and signed by a cross-party group in the House of Commons and the House of Lords, including Nigel Farage and Jeremy Corbyn, describes an “insidious dystopia” unfolding in Afghanistan. I raise it.
A statement to ECB Chief Executive Richard Gould concluded: “We strongly urge England men’s players and officials to speak out about the appalling treatment of women and girls in Afghanistan under the Taliban.
“We also urge the ECB to consider a boycott of the upcoming match against Afghanistan… to send a clear signal that such grotesque abuses will not be tolerated.
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“We must speak out against gender discrimination and implore the ECB to send a firm message of solidarity and hope to Afghan women and girls that their suffering has not gone unnoticed.”
Gould issued a swift response, reaffirming ECB principles while also suggesting he favored a unified approach by all member states rather than acting in isolation.
“The ECB strongly condemns the treatment of women and girls in Afghanistan under the Taliban regime,” he said.
“The ICC Constitution requires all member countries to be committed to the growth and development of women’s cricket. In line with these commitments, the ECB maintained its stance that it is not planning any bilateral cricket matches with Afghanistan.
“A coordinated approach across the ICC is far more impactful than unilateral actions by individual members.
“We understand the concerns raised by those who believe that a boycott of men’s cricket could unintentionally support the Taliban’s efforts to suppress freedoms and isolate Afghan society. “It is important to recognize the importance of cricket as a source of hope and positivity for many Afghans, including those who have migrated from the country.”
At the 2003 Cricket World Cup, England lost the match against Zimbabwe in protest against Robert Mugabe’s regime.
