Taliban-led government keeps mum on calls for Afghanistan cricket boycott

The Taliban-led government of Afghanistan is tight-lipped over the recent calls from British politicians urging the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to boycott their upcoming ICC Champions Trophy match against Afghanistan in Lahore, Pakistan.

“I am in contact with the Afghanistan’s External Ministry and whatever reaction will come from it then I will share that with you,” a well-placed source in the Afghanistan’s government told Nukta.

A group of 160 British politicians has written a joint letter calling on the ECB to take a stance against the Taliban’s oppressive policies towards women in Afghanistan.

“We urge the ECB to consider a boycott of the upcoming match against Afghanistan in the ICC Champions Trophy group stage on February 26 to send a clear signal that such grotesque abuses against women will not be tolerated,” the letter stated.

In response, ECB chief Richard Gould emphasized the need for a unified approach among ICC member nations regarding Afghanistan's participation in cricket.

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

“The ICC Constitution mandates that all member nations are committed to the growth and development of women’s cricket. In line with this commitment, 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.”

South Africa’s Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie has also supported the British lawmakers’ call for a boycott. He urged cricketing bodies and the ICC to consider the broader implications of supporting cricket in Afghanistan under the Taliban regime.

“It is not for me as the sports minister to make the final decision on whether South Africa should honour cricketing fixtures against Afghanistan. If it was my decision, then it certainly would not happen,” Gayton said in a statement on Thursday.

“As a man who comes from a race that was not allowed equal access to sporting opportunities during Apartheid, it would be hypocritical and immoral to look the other way today when the same is being done towards women anywhere in the world,” he added.

Previously, Australia canceled a T20I series against Afghanistan in the UAE, citing concerns over the worsening human rights situation for Afghan women.

In the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy, Afghanistan has been placed in Group B alongside England, South Africa, and Australia.

Their campaign begins against South Africa in Karachi on February 21, followed by matches against England and Australia in Lahore on February 26 and 28, respectively.

Group A features Pakistan, India, New Zealand, and Bangladesh, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the semi-finals.

Since reclaiming power in 2021, the Taliban have imposed strict restrictions on women, barring them from education, employment, and sports.

The Afghanistan women’s cricket team was disbanded, with many players reportedly fleeing the country. There were even rumors of potential restrictions on men’s cricket, though no official ban has been enforced.