Overview

• More than 160 British politicians have urged the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to boycott the February 26 match against Afghanistan in Lahore, citing the Taliban's oppression of women.
• The Taliban's return to power in 2021 has led to the effective ban of women in sports, putting Afghanistan's cricket board at odds with International Cricket Council (ICC) rules.
• England captain Jos Buttler stated that he does not believe a boycott is the solution, emphasizing the importance of keeping politics separate from sports.
• ECB Chief Executive Richard Gould has rejected calls for a boycott, instead advocating for collective action by the ICC to address gender inequality in Afghanistan.
• The England team is grouped with Afghanistan, Australia, and South Africa in the Champions Trophy, which begins on February 19 in Pakistan.