A group of more than 160 politicians, including Nigel Farage, Jeremy Corbyn and Lord Kinnock, have called on the England and Wales Cricket Board to boycott next month's Champions Trophy match against Afghanistan.
England's men's ODI team is due to face Afghanistan in Lahore on February 26, but there are calls from Westminster for the ECB to scrap the match, taking a stand against the Taliban regime's assault on women's rights.
Women's participation in the sport has been effectively banned since their return to power in 2021, a move that puts the Afghanistan Cricket Board in direct contravention of International Cricket Council rules.
With the ICC still allowing people from Afghanistan to compete, a strongly-worded letter has emerged from parliament pleading with the ECB to voice its moral objection.
Written by Labor MP Tonia Antoniazzi and signed by a broad cross-party group from the House of Commons and the House of Lords, it raises the “insidious dystopia” unfolding in Afghanistan.
The statement, addressed to ECB chief executive Richard Gould, concluded: “We strongly urge the players and officials of the England men's team to speak out against the appalling treatment of women and girls in Afghanistan under the Taliban.
“We are also calling on the ECB to consider boycotting the upcoming match against Afghanistan… to send a clear signal that such grotesque abuses will not be tolerated.”
“We must stand against sexual apartheid and call on the ECB to deliver a strong message of solidarity and hope to Afghan women and girls that their suffering has not been ignored.”
The Afghanistan women's cricket team fled the country in August 2021 and most of them currently live in Australia
Gould responded quickly, reaffirming the ECB's principles, suggesting that it favors a unified approach by all member countries rather than acting alone.
“The ECB strongly condemns the treatment of women and girls in Afghanistan under the Taliban regime,” he said.
“The ICC Constitution mandates that all member countries 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 no consensus has been reached on further international action within the ICC, the ECB will continue to actively advocate for such measures. A coordinated approach across the ICC would be far more effective than unilateral actions by individual members.
“We recognize and respect different perspectives on this global issue. We understand the concerns of those who believe that a boycott of men's cricket could inadvertently support the Taliban's efforts to stifle freedoms and isolate Afghan society. It is critical to recognize the importance of cricket as a source of hope and positivity for many Afghans, including those displaced from the country.
“The ECB is committed to finding solutions that support the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan, while also considering the wider impact on the Afghan people. We will continue to engage in constructive dialogue with the UK Government, other stakeholders, the International Criminal Court and other international cricket boards to investigate all possible pathways for significant change.”
A spokesman for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport said: “We are deeply concerned about the appalling erosion of the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan.
“While participation in the ICC Champions Trophy is a matter for the International Cricket Council and the England and Wales Cricket Board, we are in contact with the ECB on the wider issue of the Afghanistan women's cricket team.
“We welcome the fact that the ECB is making statements to the ICC on this wider issue and what support can be given.”
The situation brings back memories of the 2003 World Cup, when Nasser Hussain's England side called off a game against Zimbabwe in protest against Robert Mugabe's regime, and politicians championed the move without stepping in to make a decision on the team's behalf.