ECB Dismisses Boycott Requests for Afghanistan Cricket Match Amid Women's Rights Concerns
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New Delhi, Jan 7 (NationPress) The England and Wales Cricket Board has allegedly dismissed calls to boycott the England match against Afghanistan in the forthcoming Champions Trophy, citing the treatment of women in a Taliban-controlled nation.
England is set to play against Afghanistan on February 26 in the Champions Trophy, yet over 160 politicians have penned a letter to the ECB, advocating for a match boycott.
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.
It is crucial to 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,
read a letter written by Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi to ECB chief executive Richard Gould.
In response to the boycott request, Gould stated, ECB strongly condemns the treatment of women and girls in Afghanistan under the Taliban regime, while indicating a preference for a unified stance from all member nations instead of isolated actions, as per a report from Sky Sports.
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 added.
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 concluded.
Following the Taliban's return to power in August 2021, female participation in sports has been effectively banned.
Notably, Australia has opted out of participating in several men's series against Afghanistan in recent years due to the Taliban regime's restrictions on women; however, the two teams faced each other during the 2023 ODI World Cup and the 2024 T20 World Cup.
