British politicians urge England to boycott Champions Trophy match against Afghanistan

LONDON (AP) — England should refuse to play the Champions Trophy cricket match against Afghanistan next month, according to a letter signed by more than 160 UK politicians.

Politicians want the England and Wales Cricket Board to take a stand against the Taliban regime’s attack on women’s rights and boycott the men’s one-day international against Afghanistan in Lahore, Pakistan, on February 26.

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

With the ICC still allowing men from Afghanistan to compete, a strongly worded letter from the UK parliament has emerged calling on the ECB to raise its own moral objection.

Written by Labor MP Tonia Antoniazzi and signed by a cross-party group from the House of Commons and House of Lords, including Nigel Farage and Jeremy Corbyn, it sets out the “insidious dystopia” unfolding in Afghanistan.

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

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

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

Gould issued a swift response, reaffirming the ECB’s principles and suggesting that he favored a uniform approach by all member countries 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 requires all member countries to be 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.

“A coordinated ICC-wide approach would have a significantly greater impact than unilateral actions by individual members.

“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 crucial to recognize the importance of cricket as a source of hope and positivity for many Afghans, including those displaced from the country.”

In the 2003 Cricket World Cup, England lost a match against Zimbabwe in protest against Robert Mugabe’s regime.