Politicians call on ECB to boycott England’s Champions Trophy match with Afghanistan | Cricket News

The England and Wales Cricket Board has been urged to boycott next month’s Champions Trophy match against Afghanistan by a group of more than 160 politicians, including Nigel Farage, Jeremy Corbyn and Lord Kinnock.

England’s men’s ODI team are due to face Afghanistan in Lahore on February 26, but there are calls from Westminster for the ECB to refuse the match, taking a stand against the Taliban regime’s assault on women’s rights.

Women’s participation in the sport has been effectively banned since their return to power in 2021, a move that puts the Afghanistan Cricket Board in direct breach of International Cricket Council rules.

With Afghan men still allowed to compete by the ICC, a strongly-worded letter from parliament has emerged asking the ECB to issue its own moral objection.

Written by Labor MP Tonia Antoniazzi and signed by a broad cross-party group from the House of Commons and the House of Lords, it raises the “insidious dystopia” unfolding in Afghanistan.

The statement, addressed to ECB chief executive Richard Gould, concluded: “We strongly urge the players and officials of the England men’s team to speak out against the appalling treatment of women and girls in Afghanistan under the Taliban.

“We also urge the ECB to consider boycotting the upcoming match with Afghanistan… to send a clear message that such tragic abuses will not be tolerated.

“We must stand against sexual apartheid and implore the ECB to send a firm message of solidarity and hope to Afghan women and girls that their suffering has not been overlooked.”

Gould gave a swift response, reaffirming the ECB’s principles while suggesting it favors a unified approach by all member states rather than acting alone.

“The ECB strongly condemns the treatment of women and girls in Afghanistan under the Taliban regime,” he said.

“The ICC Constitution states that all member states are committed to the growth and development of women’s cricket. In line with this commitment, the ICC has maintained its position of not scheduling bilateral cricket matches against Afghanistan.

“While there has been no consensus on further international action under the ICC, the ECB will continue to actively support such measures. A coordinated approach at the ICC level would have a far greater impact than unilateral actions by individual members.

“We recognize and respect the different perspectives on this global issue. We understand the concerns expressed 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. It is vital importance to recognize the importance of cricket as a source of hope and positivity for many Afghans, including those who have been displaced from the country.

“The ECB is committed to finding a solution that upholds the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan, while also taking into account the wider impact on the Afghan people. We will continue to engage in constructive dialogue with the UK Government, other stakeholders, the ICC and other international cricket boards to explore all possible avenues for meaningful change.”

A spokesman for the Ministry of Culture, Media and Sport said: “We are deeply concerned about the appalling erosion of women’s and girls’ rights in Afghanistan.

“While participation in the ICC Champions Trophy is a matter for the International Cricket Council and the England and Wales Cricket Board, we are in contact with the ECB on the wider issue of the Afghanistan women’s cricket team.

“We welcome the fact that the ECB is making representations to the ICC on this wider issue and the support that can be given.”

The situation brings back memories of the 2003 World Cup, when Nasser Hussain’s England side forfeited a game against Zimbabwe in protest against Robert Mugabe’s regime, with politicians supporting the move without stepping in to take decision on behalf of the team.