ECB Declines Boycott Request For Champions Trophy 2025 Match vs Afghanistan
England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) strongly condemned Taliban's oppressive policies but stated that forfeiting their Champions Trophy 2025 match against Afghanistan is not an option.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has declined a request from over 160 lawmakers to boycott their Champions Trophy 2025 match against Afghanistan. The calls for boycott of ENG vs AFG CT 2025 match stemmed from concerns over Taliban's severe restrictions on women's rights in Afghanistan. ECB strongly condemned Taliban's oppressive policies, but stated that forfeiting the match is not an option.
"We strongly urge the England men's team players and officials to speak out against the horrific treatment of women and girls in Afghanistan under the Taliban. We also urge the ECB to consider a boycott of the upcoming match against Afghanistan... to send a clear signal that such grotesque abuses will not be tolerated.
"We must stand against sex apartheid, and we implore the ECB to deliver a firm message of solidarity and hope to Afghan women and girls that their suffering has not been overlooked," Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi's letter to England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chief executive Richard Gould, read, Sky Sports reported.
ECB Chief Richard Gould responds to letter calling for ENG vs AFG Champions Trophy 2025 match boycott
As per a report in Sky Sports, in response to the boycott letter, Gould said: "We understand the concerns raised by those who believe that a boycott of men's cricket could inadvertently support the Taliban's efforts to suppress freedoms and Isolate Afghan society.
"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," he said.
"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.
"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 added.
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