Politicians urge ECB to boycott England’s Champions Trophy game vs Afghanistan as Sir Keir Starmer calls for ICC decision

The England and Wales Cricket Board has been urged to boycott next month's Champions Trophy match against Afghanistan, although UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has called for the International Cricket Council to "deliver their own rules".

A group of more than 160 politicians, including Nigel Farage, Jeremy Corbyn and Lord Kinnock, have signed a letter encouraging England to shun the game in Lahore on February 26 and take a stand against the Taliban regime's assault on women's rights.

Female participation in sport has effectively been outlawed since their return to power in 2021, a move that puts the Afghanistan Cricket Board in direct contravention of the rules of cricket's governing body, the ICC.

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ECB chief executive Richard Gould responded to the letter, which was penned by Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi, saying that "a coordinated, ICC-wide approach would be significantly more impactful than unilateral actions by individual members."

That stance has been backed by Downing Street with the PM's spokesman saying: "The ICC should clearly deliver on their own rules and make sure that they're supporting women's cricket as the ECB do.

"That's why we support the fact that the ECB are making representations to the ICC on this issue.

"The erosion of women's and girls' rights by the Taliban is clearly appalling. We'll work with the ECB on this issue, we're in contact with them. Ultimately this is a matter for the ICC in relation to the Champions Trophy.

"We should remember that Afghanistani cricket for a long time has been a beacon of hope for the Afghanistani people, it's terrible the way in which the women's team has been suppressed.

"This issue in relation to the erosion of women's and girls' rights by the Taliban is clearly a bigger issue than cricket. The focus here shouldn't be on the cricketers, but on the Taliban."

MPs urge England to boycott game and 'send clear signal'

The Antoniazzi-written letter addressed to Gould spoke of the insidious dystopia" unfolding in Afghanistan, with the correspondence concluding: "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."

Gould's reply insisted that the ECB "strongly condemns the treatment of women and girls in Afghanistan under the Taliban regime" and stressed that his organisation has not scheduled any bilateral series with Afghanistan.

He added: "We acknowledge and respect the diverse perspectives on this global issue.

"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.

"It's crucial to recognise the importance of cricket as a source of hope and positivity for many Afghans, including those displaced from the country.

"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."

The situation brings back memories of the 2003 World Cup, when Nasser Hussain's England forfeited a game against Zimbabwe in protest at Robert Mugabe's regime, with politicians advocating for the move without stepping in to make the decision on the squad's behalf.