England Under Pressure to Refuse Afghanistan Game

England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is under pressure to boycott the England men’s team’s Champions Trophy match against Afghanistan on 26 February in Lahore. UK politicians led by Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi and backed by figures like Nigel Farage and Jeremy Corbyn have called for a boycott to protest the Taliban regime’s suppression of women’s rights including the effective ban on women’s participation in sports.

In a letter to the ECB, over 160 signatories urged action to highlight Afghanistan’s failure to meet International Cricket Council (ICC) rules requiring full members to have women’s cricket programs. Despite these breaches, Afghanistan’s men’s team continues to compete in ICC tournaments without sanctions. Women’s cricket in Afghanistan was progressing until the Taliban’s return to power in 2021 forced many female players to flee the country with some now living in Australia.

ECB Chief Executive Richard Gould stated the board’s commitment to advocating for women’s rights in Afghanistan, emphasizing the importance of a unified ICC response over unilateral boycotts. Gould noted the ECB’s current policy of not scheduling bilateral matches with Afghanistan but highlighted that ICC-run tournaments like the Champions Trophy require member nations to participate.

Gould also acknowledged concerns that a boycott could isolate Afghan society and inadvertently strengthen the Taliban’s hold, as cricket remains a significant source of hope for many Afghans. The ECB plans to work with the UK government, international boards and the ICC to explore impactful measures for change.

While Australia has refused bilateral series with Afghanistan due to the Taliban’s policies, they competed in ICC tournaments against them, including the 2023 World Cup. The UK government has engaged with the ECB on women’s cricket with a DCMS spokesperson calling the Taliban’s actions an “appalling erosion” of women’s rights.