UK Politicians Urge England to Boycott Afghanistan Cricket Match Over Taliban’s Treatment of Women
A group of over 160 British lawmakers has called on England to boycott their ICC Champions Trophy match against Afghanistan, scheduled for February 26 in Lahore, Pakistan. The request aims to protest the Taliban’s oppressive treatment of women and girls in Afghanistan since regaining power in 2021.
The Taliban’s regime has imposed severe restrictions on women’s rights, including banning education and work for women and girls, limiting their freedom of movement, and requiring them to cover their faces and bodies in public. Women have also been barred from sports and gyms, a violation of International Cricket Council (ICC) rules. The Afghanistan women’s cricket team was disbanded after the Taliban’s return to power, with many players fleeing the country.
The lawmakers’ letter, signed on Monday, urged England’s players and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to take a stand. “We urge the ECB to boycott the upcoming match against Afghanistan in the ICC Champions Trophy group stage on February 26 to send a clear message that such grotesque abuses will not be tolerated,” the letter stated.
ECB Responds
ECB chief executive Richard Gould condemned the treatment of women in Afghanistan, reiterating the board’s commitment to the growth of women’s cricket worldwide. “The ICC Constitution mandates all member nations to promote the development of women’s cricket. The ECB has maintained its position of not scheduling bilateral matches against Afghanistan,” Gould said.
He added that a coordinated response from ICC member nations would have a greater impact than unilateral action. “While there has not been a consensus within the ICC on further action, the ECB will continue to advocate for measures that align with the values of equality and inclusion.”
Context and Precedents
This is not the first time Afghanistan’s participation in international cricket has sparked controversy. In 2023, Australia canceled a T20 series against Afghanistan due to the worsening human rights situation for women. Despite these concerns, England faced Afghanistan in both the 2023 Cricket World Cup and the 2022 T20 World Cup.
The situation highlights the tension between cricket’s role as a unifying global sport and its governing bodies’ responsibilities to uphold values of equality and fairness. Whether the ICC or its member nations will take further action against Afghanistan remains to be seen.
