Politicians call on ECB to boycott England’s Champions League match against Afghanistan | Cricket news
A group of more than 160 politicians, including Nigel Farage, Jeremy Corbyn and Lord Kinnock, have called on the England and Wales Cricket Board to boycott next month’s Champions Trophy match against Afghanistan.
England’s men’s ODI side are due to face Afghanistan in Lahore on February 26, but calls are coming from Westminster for the ECB to pull the plug, taking a stand against the Taliban regime’s assault on women’s rights.
Women’s participation in the sport has effectively been banned since their return to power in 2021, a move that puts the Afghanistan Cricket Board in direct conflict with International Cricket Council rules.
With the ICC still allowing Afghan men to compete, a scathing letter has emerged from parliament urging the ECB to lodge 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.
A statement addressed to ECB chief executive Richard Gould concluded: “We strongly encourage the players and officials of the England men’s national team to speak out against the appalling treatment of women and girls in Afghanistan under the Taliban.
“We are also calling on the ECB to consider boycotting the upcoming match against Afghanistan… to send a clear signal that such grotesque abuse will not be tolerated.
“We must stand against sexual apartheid and ask the ECB to send a strong message of solidarity and hope to Afghan women and girls that their suffering has not been ignored.”
Gould issued a swift response, reaffirming the ECB’s principles, suggesting it favored a unified approach by all member countries over acting alone.
“The ECB strongly condemns the treatment of women and girls in Afghanistan under the Taliban regime,” he said.
“The ICC constitution mandates that all member countries are committed to the growth and development of women’s cricket. In line with this commitment, the ECB has maintained its position not to schedule any bilateral cricket matches against Afghanistan.
“Although no consensus has been reached on further international action within the ICC, the ECB will continue to actively advocate for such measures. A coordinated approach at the level of the entire ICC would be significantly more effective than unilateral actions by individual members.
“We recognize and respect different perspectives on this global issue. We understand the concerns of 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.
“The ECB is committed to finding a solution that supports the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan while 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 as would explore all possible avenues for meaningful change.”
A spokesman for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport said: “We are deeply concerned by the appalling erosion of the rights of women and girls 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 regarding 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 what support it can provide.”
The situation brings back memories of the 2003 World Cup, when Nasser Hussain’s England side lost a match against Zimbabwe in protest against Robert Mugabe’s regime, with politicians advocating the move without making a decision on the team’s behalf.
