British politicians urge England to boycott Afghanistan in the Champions Cup | Cricket news

The England Cricket Board proposes an ICC-level response against Afghanistan over the Taliban’s campaign against women in response to the MPs’ letter.

A group of British politicians have urged England to boycott the cricket match they play against Afghanistan next month, in the Cricket Champions Trophy, saying the country’s cricket officials need to take a stand against the Taliban’s campaign against women.

A letter signed by more than 160 MPs on Monday called on players and officials in England to speak out against the treatment of women and girls in Afghanistan.

“We also urge the ECB to consider boycotting the upcoming match against Afghanistan in the group stage of the ICC Champions Trophy on February 26 to send a clear signal that such heinous violations will not be tolerated,” the letter added.

Drafted by Labor MP Tonia Antoniazzi, and signed by a cross-party group from the House of Commons and the House of Lords, including Nigel Farage and Jeremy Corbyn, it raises the “malignant dystopia” unfolding in Afghanistan.

Since returning to power in 2021, the Taliban have suppressed the rights of women and girls, restricting their access to education and work, restricting their freedom of movement, and forcing them to cover their faces and bodies.

Women and girls were also banned from sports and gyms, in violation of International Cricket Council (ICC) rules.

The Afghanistan women’s team has also been disbanded, with many of its members fleeing the country after 2021.

England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) Chief Executive Richard Gould responded to the politicians’ letter by calling for a unified approach from all member states towards Afghanistan’s participation in international cricket.

“The European Central Bank strongly condemns the treatment of women and girls in Afghanistan under the Taliban regime,” Gould said.

“The ICC Constitution stipulates the commitment of all Member States to the growth and development of women’s cricket. In line with this commitment, the ECB has maintained its position that no bilateral cricket matches will be organized against Afghanistan.

“Although there is no consensus on further international action within the ICC, the ECB will continue to actively advocate for such measures. A coordinated approach at ICC level would be significantly more impactful than its unilateral actions.” Individual members.

Australia in recent years to reject to play a bilateral series against Afghanistan on three occasions, upset by the Taliban’s ongoing policies on women’s participation in sport, but they continue to face the South Asian nation in major tournaments.

Cricket Australia cited “the deteriorating human rights of women and girls in the country under Taliban rule” as the reason behind its move to cancel the series, along with CA president Mike Baird. Saying He was “very proud of the stand we took.”

“We have taken a stand, and we proudly stand where we believe we should,” Byrd said.

“There are all kinds of lines you can draw. We drew a line.”

In December, Afghanistan’s top cricket stars Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi will be in attendance urge The Taliban has called for a reconsideration of its ban on women’s access to education and medical training, describing the move as “extremely unjust.”

Rashid, 26, a global symbol of the sport, said that the country “is in dire need of professionals in every field, especially the medical sector.”

T20 captain Rashid said he was speaking out in support of his Afghan “sisters and mothers” and believed the decision would profoundly impact the future of Afghan women as well as the “broader fabric of society”.

Afghanistan have become an even bigger force in white-ball cricket in recent years, rising to eighth in the ODI rankings.

They beat England in the Over-50 World Cup in 2023 and reached the semi-finals of the 2024 T20 World Cup, eliminating Australia in the process.

Afghanistan are in Group B – along with England, Australia and South Africa – in the eight-team Champions Cup tournament, which will be held in Pakistan and Dubai from February 19 to March 9.

Dubai The matches will be hosted by India After the World T20 champions refused to travel to Pakistan.