Lots of of British politicians have referred to as on the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to boycott subsequent month’s Champions Trophy match towards Afghanistan.
MPs and friends from throughout parliament, together with Nigel Farage, Jeremy Corbyn, and Lord Kinnock, referred to as for the England males’s at some point worldwide facet to refuse the fixture which is ready for 26 February in Lahore, Pakistan.
Led by Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi, many in Westminster have stated the boycott could be a strategy to take a stand towards the Taliban regime’s assault on ladies’s rights.
What have MPs stated?
In a put up on X on Monday, Ms Antoniazzi, who’s the MP for Gower in southwest Wales, stated 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 stated the letter has gained greater than 160 signatures from individuals throughout political events and in each the Home of Commons and Home of Lords.
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The message, addressed to ECB chief govt Richard Gould, stated: “We strongly urge the England males’s staff gamers and officers to talk out towards the horrific therapy of ladies and ladies in Afghanistan underneath 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 should stand towards intercourse apartheid and we implore the ECB to ship a agency message of solidarity and hope to Afghan ladies and ladies that their struggling has not been neglected.”
England beforehand confronted Afghanistan on the 50-overs Cricket World Cup in 2023, in addition to on the Twenty20 World Cup in 2022.
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Afghan ladies’s needs for 2025
Taliban restrictions
For the reason that Taliban returned to energy in 2021 it has clamped down on the rights of ladies and ladies, proscribing their entry to training and work, curbing their freedom of motion, and forcing them to cowl their faces and our bodies.
Girls and ladies have additionally been barred from sports activities and gymnasiums, a breach of the Worldwide Cricket Council’s (ICC) guidelines – which state that every one take a look at nations should help and fund ladies’s cricket.
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Members of the Taliban in Kabul, Afghanistan. Pic: Reuters
The Afghanistan ladies’s staff has been disbanded, with a number of members having fled the nation after 2021.
The nation’s males’s staff continues to be allowed to compete in tournaments with none sanctions.
Ms Antoniazzi described the regime as “insidious dystopia”.
Final 12 months, Australia referred to as off a T20 collection towards Afghanistan, citing the deteriorating human rights scenario for ladies.
What has the ECB stated?
Responding to the letter, Mr Gould stated reaffirmed the ECB’s rules however prompt it favoured a uniform method from all member nations fairly than performing alone.
“The ECB strongly condemns the treatment of women and girls in Afghanistan under the Taliban regime,” he stated.
He stated, inline with ICC guidelines, the ECB has maintained its place of not scheduling any bilateral cricket matches towards Afghanistan.
Picture:
Pic: Pankaj Nangia/Shutterstock
“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.
“It is essential to recognise the significance of cricket as a supply of hope and positivity for a lot of Afghans, together with these displaced from the nation.
“The ECB is committed to finding a solution that upholds the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan while also considering the broader impact on the Afghan people.”
He stated the ECB will work with the UK authorities, different stakeholders, the ICC and different worldwide cricket boards to “explore all possible avenues for meaningful change”.
What’s the Champions Trophy?
The Champions Trophy is a 15-match occasion that consists of eight groups going head-to-head over 19 days.
This 12 months it would happen throughout Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates from 19 February to 9 March.
It’s the first time since 2017 that the competitors has been held, based on the ICC, with defending champions Pakistan internet hosting its first world cricket event since 1996.
The opening match will see hosts Pakistan go up towards New Zealand.
England’s first match will likely be towards fierce rivals Australia on 22 February.
