A cross-party letter addressed to the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has ignited a debate over England's upcoming cricket match against Afghanistan. Nearly 200 UK politicians signed the letter, urging the ECB to refuse to play against Afghanistan in response to the Taliban regime's assault on women's rights. The match is scheduled for 26 February in Lahore as part of the Champions Trophy, which kicks off on 19 February in Pakistan and Dubai.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) regulations stipulate that full membership requires the presence of women's cricket teams and pathways. Despite this, Afghanistan's men's team continues to participate in ICC tournaments without sanctions, even though female participation in sports has been effectively outlawed since the Taliban's return to power in 2021. The ICC aims to leverage its influence and the popularity of cricket to foster change in Afghanistan, asserting that players should not face punishment for their government's policies.
England's captain, Jos Buttler, has publicly stated that the players have not been overly concerned by the issue. He has, however, called on the ICC to impose an "immediate condition" on Afghanistan's full membership status, requiring the establishment of women's cricket by a specific date.
"Political situations like this… as a player you're trying to be as informed as you can be." – Jos Buttler
"The players haven't really worried too much about it," – Jos Buttler
The controversy comes as England remains in India for a white-ball tour commencing on Wednesday. England has previously faced Afghanistan in international tournaments, including the 2022 T20 World Cup and the 2023 50-over World Cup. Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi has encouraged England's players to utilize their influence to bring about meaningful change. Additionally, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has confirmed that the government is engaging with international counterparts regarding the situation.
Meanwhile, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy expressed her opposition to boycotting the match, labeling such actions as "counterproductive." She emphasized that boycotts often deprive sports enthusiasts of their passion while unfairly penalizing athletes who strive to excel.
"They deny sports fans the opportunity they love and they can very much penalise the athletes and sportspeople who work very, very hard to reach the top of their game," – Lisa Nandy
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