The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has called for a unified response to address Afghanistan’s participation in international cricket amid growing pressure for the England men’s team to boycott next month’s Champions Trophy match against the country.
The proposed boycott is driven by calls from UK politicians who want to take a stand against the Taliban regime’s restrictions on women’s rights, particularly in sport.
England is scheduled to face Afghanistan in a 50-over match on 26 February in Lahore, as part of the upcoming Champions Trophy.
However, a letter addressed to the ECB, written by Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi, and signed by several prominent political figures, including former Labour leaders Jeremy Corbyn and Lord Kinnock, as well as Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, urges the England team to refuse to play.
The letter argues that a boycott would send a clear message that “grotesque abuses” like the Taliban’s suppression of women’s rights will not be tolerated.
Since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, women’s participation in sports in Afghanistan has been effectively outlawed, forcing many of the country’s female players to flee for their safety.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) stipulates that full membership for national boards requires a functioning women’s cricket team and pathway structures, but despite Afghanistan’s non-compliance with these regulations, the men’s team has been allowed to compete in ICC tournaments without any sanctions.
In response to the growing calls for a boycott, ECB chief executive Richard Gould acknowledged the concerns raised but emphasized the board’s preference for a coordinated international approach rather than unilateral actions.
“While there has not been a consensus on further international action within the ICC, the ECB will continue to actively advocate for such measures,” Gould said. He added that a collective, ICC-wide response would have a much greater impact than actions taken by individual boards.
The ECB confirmed that it would maintain its policy of not scheduling bilateral matches against Afghanistan but did not explicitly commit to a boycott of the Champions Trophy match.
International tournaments like the Champions Trophy, however, are run by the ICC, which has allowed Afghanistan to compete in the event. As a result, the match between England and Afghanistan is set to go ahead as scheduled.
Australia has previously withdrawn from playing several series against Afghanistan in recent years in protest of the Taliban’s restrictions on women.
However, the two countries have still met in ICC events, including the 2023 50-over World Cup and the 2024 T20 World Cup.
Gould stressed the importance of cricket as a beacon of hope for many Afghans, including those displaced abroad, and noted that a boycott could inadvertently support the Taliban’s efforts to suppress freedoms.
He also confirmed that the ECB would continue discussions with the UK government, other international cricket boards, and the ICC to explore ways to address the issue of women’s rights in Afghanistan.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has been in contact with the ECB, expressing concern over the erosion of women’s and girls’ rights in Afghanistan.
“We welcome the fact that the ECB are making representations to the ICC on this wider issue,” said a DCMS spokesperson.
The Afghanistan women’s cricket team, which was formed in 2010, had initially faced opposition from the Afghanistan Cricket Board due to threats from the Taliban.
Since the Taliban’s resurgence, the team has been unable to play, with many players seeking asylum abroad. Currently, more than 20 Afghan women cricketers live in Australia, where they continue to pursue their cricketing careers.
As the 2024 Champions Trophy approaches, the issue of Afghanistan’s participation in international sport, and the global response to the Taliban’s treatment of women, continues to spark debate within the cricketing world.