Despite a cross-party letter urging the ECB to boycott the match, England will play Afghanistan in Lahore on February 26th. The ECB condemns the Taliban's treatment of women and girls but believes a coordinated international response is the best way forward.
A cross-party letter, signed by nearly 200 UK politicians, urged the England and Wales Cricket Board ( ECB ) to cancel England's upcoming cricket match against Afghanistan in protest of the Taliban 's human rights record. The call for a boycott stemmed from the Taliban 's effective ban on female participation in sports since their return to power in 2021.
The matter was debated at an ECB board meeting on Thursday, but the governing body ultimately decided to proceed with the match in Lahore on February 26th. In a statement, the ECB acknowledged the 'gender apartheid' situation in Afghanistan, emphasizing that a coordinated international response from the cricketing community is the most appropriate course of action. The board expressed its heartbreak at the denial of cricket opportunities to young women and girls in Afghanistan, while condemning the Taliban's oppressive treatment of women and girls. The ECB pledged its commitment to supporting Afghan female cricketers, announcing a £100,000 donation to the Global Refugee Cricket Fund and continuing to press the International Cricket Council (ICC) for action, including supporting Afghan women and girls who aspire to play cricket. The ECB emphasized the importance of women's cricket globally, highlighting the tragic contrast between its rapid growth worldwide and the suppression of female athletes in Afghanistan. England's participation in the upcoming Champions Trophy, featuring matches against Australia and South Africa in Pakistan and Dubai from February 19th, remained unaffected by the decision
Cricket Afghanistan Taliban Women's Rights Boycott ECB ICC
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