Afghanistan Times
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KABUL – England will proceed with its Champions Trophy match against Afghanistan on February 26, despite calls from over 160 British parliamentarians to boycott the game in protest of the Taliban’s oppressive treatment of women.
Richard Gould, CEO of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), dismissed the calls for a boycott, emphasizing the importance of collective international action over unilateral measures. In a letter responding to the appeal, Gould acknowledged the Taliban’s egregious record on women’s rights but argued that isolating Afghanistan’s cricket team would do more harm than good.
“It’s crucial to recognize the importance of cricket as a source of hope and positivity for many Afghans, including those displaced from the country,” Gould wrote. He added that the ECB would continue working with the International Cricket Council (ICC) and other stakeholders to find meaningful ways to address the issue.
The push for a boycott was spearheaded by Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi, who co-signed a letter condemning the Taliban’s ban on women in sports, including the disbanding of Afghanistan’s women’s cricket team. The letter accused the ICC of failing to enforce its own rules, which require test-playing nations to support women’s cricket. It described the Taliban’s actions as a violation of basic human rights, stating, “Sport was only the first joy to be removed from women, and since then, life for them has become incomprehensibly unbearable.”
While some nations, such as Australia, have refused to play bilateral matches against Afghanistan, Gould argued that symbolic gestures like boycotts would be less effective than a unified ICC response. Since the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021, women in Afghanistan have faced severe restrictions, with many rights and freedoms stripped away. Despite this, Afghanistan’s men’s cricket team remains active in international tournaments.
The match is expected to proceed as scheduled, highlighting the broader debate over the role of sports in addressing human rights abuses and the complexities of balancing moral obligations with the unifying power of the game.
