LONDON — A collective of over 160 politicians in the United Kingdom has urged England to forgo their upcoming Champions Trophy cricket match against Afghanistan, which is set for next month. This appeal highlights concerns over the Taliban’s treatment of women and girls, significantly violating their rights and freedoms since their resurgence in power in 2021.
The politicians are imploring the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to take a definitive stance against the ongoing oppression in Afghanistan by boycotting the one-day international match scheduled for February 26th in Lahore, Pakistan. Since the Taliban’s return to authority, women’s participation in sports has been nearly banned, which has placed the Afghanistan Cricket Board at odds with regulations established by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
While the ICC currently permits Afghanistan’s male cricketers to participate, parliamentarians from a broad spectrum, including Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi, have expressed their outrage through a letter that describes the dire situation in Afghanistan as an “insidious dystopia.” This letter has garnered signatures from a range of politicians, amongst them figures like Nigel Farage and Jeremy Corbyn. They are compelling the ECB to serve as a moral compass in this ongoing crisis.
Addressed to Richard Gould, the ECB’s chief executive, the letter encourages England’s team members and official staff to denounce the Taliban’s appalling treatment of women and girls. Additionally, it calls for the ECB to contemplate a boycott of the forthcoming match to send a strong message that human rights abuses of this nature will not be ignored. The politicians emphasize the necessity to oppose sex apartheid and express a desire for the ECB to offer meaningful support and hope to Afghan women and girls, illustrating that their plight is not being brushed aside.
In response, Gould swiftly acknowledged the ECB’s principles and articulated a preference for a unified stance from all ICC member nations rather than unilateral actions by individual countries. He remarked on the ECB’s commitment to condemning the treatment of women in Afghanistan and noted that the ICC constitution affirms all member nations’ dedication to fostering women’s cricket.
The ECB has thus far refrained from scheduling any bilateral cricket matches against Afghanistan as a form of protest. Gould underscored the potential greater impact of a collective ICC response compared to isolated measures by individual member countries. He also acknowledged the complexities, supporting the argument that, for some, a boycott could inadvertently aid the Taliban’s repressive regime and could hinder progress towards freedoms, particularly for those within Afghanistan who find solace and optimism in the game of cricket.
Historically, the ECB has taken a stand against human rights abuses, such as during the 2003 Cricket World Cup when England forfeited a match against Zimbabwe in opposition to Robert Mugabe’s government. The current situation with Afghanistan remains a poignant example of how sports and international politics intertwine.
