England to BOYCOTT match vs Afghanistan in ICC Champions Trophy 2025, check ECB's reason

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England to BOYCOTT match vs Afghanistan in ICC Champions Trophy 2025, check ECB’s reason

England to BOYCOTT match vs Afghanistan in ICC Champions Trophy 2025, check ECB’s reason

England faces growing pressure to back out of their 2025 Champions Trophy game against Afghanistan, stemming from concerns over the diminishing women's rights under Taliban governance. Meanwhile, Greg Barclay, the ex-ICC chairman, has stepped forward to explain why Afghanistan's men's team is still allowed to compete on the global stage.

New Delhi: Critics are strongly criticizing the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for allowing the men’s national cricket team to play Afghanistan in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. Among those voicing their disapproval are broadcaster Piers Morgan and the UK-based Women’s Rights Network. They accuse the ECB of being “misogynistic” for moving forward with the match at a time when Afghan women are facing severe injustices under the Taliban regime.

The Afghanistan women’s cricket team was disbanded in 2021 after the Taliban seized control of Kabul, forcing female cricketers to find refuge in Australia. Since the takeover, girls in Afghanistan have been barred from attending educational institutions, beauty parlors, public parks, and gyms. In a recent development, the Taliban has further restricted women by forbidding windows that have views into areas meant for them.

Women in Afghanistan experience limitations on basic activities, which men do not face, as seen with the national cricket team. For instance, despite such disparities, Afghanistan’s cricket team reached the semi-finals of last year’s T20 World Cup, although they were eventually defeated by South Africa.

When Afghanistan gained full membership in the ICC back in 2017, there was an agreement that they had to encourage both men’s and women’s cricket teams. Although the Afghanistan Cricket Board was making moves by offering central contracts to a handful of female players before the Taliban’s return, there’s currently no women’s team in place. Interestingly, even without an active women’s team, Afghanistan remains part of the ICC, and the rationale behind this choice is not well understood.

The former ICC chairman, Greg Barclay, made comments that shed light on why Australia chose not to engage in bilateral matches with Afghanistan.

Australia decided to cancel a T20 cricket series with Afghanistan scheduled for March 2024, expressing concerns over the state of women’s rights in Afghanistan, a nation facing significant challenges due to ongoing conflict.

Before handing over his role at the ICC to Jay Shah, Barclay expressed that politics has no place in sports. “If you want to make a political statement, don’t play them in a World Cup,” he told the UK’s Telegraph Sport. “Sure, it might cost you a semi-final place, but principles are principles. It’s not about having half a principle.”

When asked why there are no sanctions on Afghanistan’s men’s cricket team, Barclay clarified that the issue is about the cricket board’s conduct. He remarked, “It might seem easy to remove Afghanistan, but their cricket board hasn’t done anything wrong. They’re following rules and laws that define what they can do. I think kicking them out wouldn’t really affect those in power in Afghanistan.”

“Maybe I’m a little naïve, but I think cricket is such a force for good there, and it brings a lot of joy to a lot of people. It is better to leave it there and hope that it can foster a bit of a change,” added Barclay. “It’s a real feel-good story – a sport that was played in the refugee camps 25 years ago and now they have played in a World Cup semi-final. Do you really want to turn the tap off?,” questioned Barclay, recalling Afghanistan’s run to the 2024 T20 World Cup semi-final.

The 2025 Champions Trophy is kicking off on February 19 with an exciting match between Pakistan and New Zealand in Karachi. India, grouped with Pakistan, New Zealand, and Bangladesh in Group A, has chosen to play all its games in Dubai because of safety worries about traveling to Pakistan. Group B is set to witness an interesting competition with newcomers Afghanistan facing off against England, Australia, and South Africa.

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