England will meet Afghanistan in the group stage of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan. The England Cricket Board (ECB) received a letter from British MPs calling for a boycott of the game against Afghanistan. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has denied requests to boycott England’s Champions Trophy match against Afghanistan on February 26, citing persistent concerns over the Taliban regime’s treatment of women in Afghanistan.
The proposal, led by more than 160 British parliamentarians, urged the ECB to take action against human rights violations in the region. In their letter, the politicians urged the England team and ECB officials to speak out against the Taliban’s harsh policies, which have severely limited women’s rights, including restrictions on education, employment, and sports. They called for a boycott of the match.
ECB said that a unilateral boycott would not result in meaningful change. Speaking on the subject, ECB Chief Executive Richard Gould underlined the board’s disapproval of the Taliban’s policies, underlining the importance of a united stance within the International Cricket Council (ICC). The ECB’s stance follows previous instances of conflicting views on cricket’s relationship with Afghanistan. While Australia earlier cancelled a bilateral series against Afghanistan in protest of the Taliban’s limitations.
Political Tensions Ignored
The two teams continued to compete in important tournaments. Such as the 2023 ODI World Cup and the 2024 T20 World Cup. The matter remains difficult, with critics claiming that participation in foreign events unintentionally normalises the rule of dictatorship. However, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has failed to develop a coherent plan for Afghanistan’s involvement in world cricket.
Richard Gould said “The ECB strongly condemns the treatment of women and girls in Afghanistan under the Taliban regime. The ICC constitution mandates that all member nations are committed to the growth and development of women’s cricket. In line with this commitment, the ECB has maintained its position of not scheduling any bilateral cricket matches against Afghanistan. While there has not been a consensus on further international action within the ICC.”
