ISLAMABAD (PEN) : England will go ahead with their Champions Trophy match against Afghanistan later this month, despite growing calls to boycott the game in light of the Taliban government’s suppression of women’s rights.
Last month, a group of British lawmakers urged England to skip the February 26 match in Lahore, with South Africa’s Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie also voicing support for the boycott. The call came amid the ongoing crisis for women in Afghanistan, where the Taliban’s takeover in August 2021 has left many women’s rights activists, including female cricketers, in exile.
At the time of the Taliban’s rise, Afghanistan had 25 women cricketers under contract, most of whom are now living in Australia. Despite this, Richard Thompson, chair of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), confirmed that England would play, following consultations with the UK government, the International Cricket Council (ICC), and the players. He emphasized that the cricketing community, working together, is better equipped to address Afghanistan’s deepening issues than any isolated action.
Thompson explained that, “We remain of the view that a coordinated international response by the cricketing community is the appropriate way forward and will achieve more than any unilateral action by the ECB in boycotting this match.” He also noted that for many ordinary Afghans, the national cricket team remains one of the few sources of joy, and as a result, England would proceed with the game.
The Taliban claims to uphold women’s rights in line with their interpretation of Islamic law, asserting these issues should be dealt with locally. In response, Thompson mentioned that last week, Afghanistan’s exiled women cricketers became the first recipients of a new refugee fund established by the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), with the ECB contributing £100,000 ($124,350) to the cause.
He added that the ECB would continue pushing the ICC to take further steps, including earmarking a portion of funding to support Afghan women cricketers in exile. “We will continue to press the ICC to take further action, including ringfencing a meaningful portion of funding to support female players from Afghanistan to be able to access cricket,” Thompson said.
Thompson also suggested that the ICC consider recognizing an Afghanistan women’s refugee team and supporting displaced Afghan women in various roles, such as coaches and administrators. He expressed his deep concern about the situation in Afghanistan, describing it as “gender apartheid” and lamented the heartbreaking reality that Afghan girls and women are being denied the opportunity to play cricket, while the sport continues to grow for women around the world.
