UK Politicians Urge ECB to Boycott Afghanistan Match Over Taliban’s Women’s Rights Violations

A significant political movement is underway in the UK, urging the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to boycott an upcoming Champions Trophy match against Afghanistan scheduled for February 26, 2025.

This call comes from over 160 British politicians, including notable figures such as Nigel Farage and Jeremy Corbyn. The impetus for this plea is the Taliban’s ongoing crackdown on women’s rights since their return to power in 2021, which has effectively banned female participation in sports, including cricket.

The letter advocating for the boycott was spearheaded by Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi and highlights the “insidious dystopia” currently unfolding in Afghanistan. It emphasizes that the ECB should take a stand against what the politicians describe as “sex apartheid” and send a message of solidarity to Afghan women and girls.

The letter asserts that allowing the match to proceed would implicitly condone the Taliban’s oppressive regime.

In a post on X on Monday, Ms Antoniazzi, who is the MP for Gower in southwest Wales, said she has written a strongly worded letter to the ECB urging it to “speak out against the Taliban’s unconscionable oppression of women and girls”.

She said the letter has gained more than 160 signatures from people across political parties and in both the House of Commons and the House of Lords.

The message addressed to ECB chief executive Richard Gould, stated: “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.”

On the other hand, in response to this pressure, ECB chief executive Richard Gould reportedly firmly rejected the call for a boycott. He reiterated that while the ECB condemns the treatment of women and girls under Taliban rule, a coordinated response from all International Cricket Council (ICC) member nations is preferred over unilateral actions by individual countries

“The ECB strongly condemns the treatment of women and girls in Afghanistan under the Taliban regime,” ECB chief executive Richard Gould said.

He said, in line with ICC rules, the ECB has maintained its position of not scheduling any bilateral cricket matches against Afghanistan.

“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,” Mr Gould 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.