UK Politicians Call for Boycott of Afghanistan Match Over Women’s Rights Concerns
UK Politicians Call for Boycott of Afghanistan Match Over Women’s Rights Concerns
A group of British legislators asked England to boycott their Champions Trophy match against Afghanistan next month, claiming the country’s cricket board (ECB) needs to speak out against the Taliban’s “crackdown” on women.Since regaining power in 2021, the Taliban has restricted women and girls’ access to school and employment, limiting their freedom of movement and compelling them to cover their faces and bodies.
Women and girls have also been excluded from sports and gyms, violating the International Cricket Council (ICC) guidelines. The Afghanistan women’s squad was dismantled, with several members leaving the country after 2021.England’s group-stage encounter against Afghanistan is slated on February 26 in Lahore.A statement signed by over 160 MPs on Monday urged England’s players and officials to speak out against the mistreatment of women and children in Afghanistan.
“We also urge the ECB to consider a boycott of the upcoming match against Afghanistan in the ICC Champions Trophy Group stage on February 26 to signal that such grotesque abuses will not be tolerated,” according to the letter.ECB chief executive Richard Gould responded by calling on all member nations to have a consistent approach to Afghanistan’s involvement in international cricket.”The ECB strongly condemns the treatment of women and girls in Afghanistan under the Taliban regime,” Mr. Gould stated.
“The ICC Constitution requires all member nations to be dedicated to the growth and development of women’s cricket. The ECB has maintained its promise not to schedule bilateral cricket matches against Afghanistan. While there has been no agreement on additional international action within the ICC, the ECB will continue actively lobbying for such steps. A coordinated, ICC-wide strategy would be far more effective than unilateral actions by individual members.
England previously met Afghanistan at the 50-overs Cricket World Cup in 2023 and the Twenty20 World Cup in 2022.Last year, Australia canceled a T20 series against Afghanistan, citing the deteriorating human rights situation for women.
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