ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Will England boycott their match against Afghanistan?

England are scheduled to play Afghanistan on February 26 in Lahore.

The England Cricket Board (ECB) has responded to the letter from the Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi, which was signed by a cross-party group of more than 160 politicians, urging the ECB to boycott their match against Afghanistan in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 due to Taliban’s restrictions on women’s rights in Afghanistan.

Women’s sport has effectively been outlawed by Taliban in Afghanistan since their takeover in 2021. In concerns with this matter, England and Australia have denied to play Afghanistan in bilateral series but have contested against them in ICC events.

Antoniazzi sent a letter to ECB’s chief executive Richard Gould, saying “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.”

Will England boycott their match against Afghanistan in Champions Trophy 2025?

ECB’s chief executive Richard Gould confirmed that England would not boycott their match against Afghanistan but also announced that they will not play bilateral against them. Gould said individual members’ boycott would not be significant and it would require an “coordinated, ICC-wide approach” to raise a strong voice.

“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,” Gould wrote in his reply.

“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 ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will be played in Pakistan and India’s matches in Dubai. England will meet Australia, Afghanistan and South Africa in their Group B matches.

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