Champions Trophy 2025: ECB rejects British politicians plea for England to boycott Afghanistan game

A group of British politicians had urged England to boycott their upcoming Champions Trophy 2025 clash with Afghanistan in February. The move came in the wake of the Taliban regime's clampdown on women's rights in the country which has become a talking point in the world. They also called for a coordinated, International Cricket Council (ICC)-led, response to show dissent against the unfair treatment of Afghanistan women by their government.   

ICC unveiled the schedule for the Champions Trophy which is being jointly hosted by Pakistan and UAE. England will face Afghanistan in Lahore on February 26, which will be their second match of the tournament. Subsequently, Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi wrote a letter to the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) signed by a cross-party group of more than 160 politicians. 

ECB's chief executive, Richard Gould has dismissed the call for boycott and has stated that the board is abiding by the ICC’s mandate to cater to all levels of cricketing countries. England have not played any bilateral series with Afghanistan so far and have met only twice with them at the ICC events. Keeping the formality intact, Gould responded that playing a bilateral series with Afghanistan is still out of context. 

"The ECB strongly condemns the treatment of women and girls in Afghanistan under the Taliban regime. The ICC constitution mandates that all member nations are committed to the growth and development of women's cricket. In line with this commitment, the ECB has maintained its position of not scheduling any bilateral cricket matches against Afghanistan," said Gould as quoted by ESPNcricinfo. 

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"While there has not been a consensus on further international action within the ICC, the ECB will continue to actively advocate for such measures. A coordinated, ICC-wide approach would be significantly more impactful than unilateral actions by individual members,” he continued. 

"It's crucial to recognise 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 upholds the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan while also considering the broader 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 to explore all possible avenues for meaningful change,” Gould concluded.