England Faces Calls to Boycott Afghanistan Match Over Women's Rights Abuses

UK politicians and activists press the ECB to withdraw from the Champions Trophy game, citing the Taliban's suppression of women and violation of ICC rules.

Over 160 UK politicians, including figures from across the political spectrum, have urged the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to boycott the February 26 match against Afghanistan in the ICC Champions Trophy.
The Taliban's ban on women's sports and broader erosion of women's rights in Afghanistan contravenes ICC rules requiring member nations to support both men’s and women’s cricket teams.
ECB Chief Executive Richard Gould has condemned the Taliban’s actions but advocates for a coordinated ICC-wide response rather than unilateral action by England.
Exiled Afghan women cricketers, now based in Australia, have called for international cricket bodies to support their efforts to rebuild a women’s team in exile.
The game is set to proceed as scheduled in Lahore, with the ECB maintaining its stance against bilateral matches with Afghanistan but participating in ICC tournaments.