London, January 7 – England’s participation in the upcoming Champions Trophy match against Afghanistan is under scrutiny after over 160 British politicians, including Jeremy Corbyn and Nigel Farage, called on the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to boycott the fixture. This appeal follows the Taliban’s crackdown on women’s rights, especially the ban on women’s sports since their return to power in 2021.
The match is set to take place on February 26 in Lahore, Pakistan. Although the ECB has condemned the treatment of women and girls in Afghanistan, the board has advocated for a unified approach from all International Cricket Council (ICC) member nations, rather than taking unilateral action. The ECB emphasized cricket’s role as a beacon of hope for many Afghans and committed to promoting the rights of women and girls through international dialogue.
