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Champions Trophy 2025: This time the hosting of Champions Trophy is in the hands of Pakistan. A total of 8 teams will participate in the tournament. The first match of the Champions Trophy will be played on 19 February. The England team also looks ready to play the Champions Trophy. A new uproar broke out in England before the start of the tournament when a group of 160 British politicians demanded that the England Cricket Board boycott the match against Afghanistan. Meanwhile, the England Cricket Board has taken its decision on this issue.
Afghanistan’s Champions Trophy 2025 clash with England is scheduled to take place in Lahore on February 26, but the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is under pressure ahead of the match as British politicians have called for a boycott of the match. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has also jumped into this matter. However, the ECB has also voted on the entire issue.
Overall, a new uproar has started before the start of the Champions Trophy. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has written a letter to the England Cricket Board (ECB) saying that ‘Afghanistan has made its own rules for women. Overall, Taliban rule has raised questions on the anarchy prevalent there.
The ECB is under pressure to act after receiving a letter from Labor MP Tonia Antonia, which has been signed by a cross-party group of more than 160 politicians including Jeremy Corbyn, Lord Kinnock and Nigel Farage. In the letter, Afghanistan was described as a devastated country and concern was expressed over the atrocities against women there. Women’s sports have been effectively outlawed since the Taliban returned to power in 2021. The men’s cricket team has played England twice during this period. That too in ICC global events, including the 2023 ODI World Cup. Where Afghanistan defeated England.
What is in the letter to ECB?
The letter, addressed to ECB chief executive Richard Gould, said: ‘We urge England men’s team players and officials to speak out against the appalling treatment of women and girls in Afghanistan under Taliban rule. We also urge the ECB to consider boycotting the upcoming match against Afghanistan. So that a clear signal can be given that such disgusting misconduct will not be tolerated. We have to stand against gender discrimination. We urge the ECB to send a strong message of solidarity and hope to Afghan women and girls that their pain has not gone unnoticed.’
ECB responded with match boycott
Responding to the letter, ECB Chief Executive Officer Richard Gould rejected calls for a boycott, saying that ‘the impact of the Taliban regime on women’s rights is a matter that requires a coordinated, rather than unilateral, action by individual countries. An ICC-led response is needed.
British PM sought intervention
This trend has now received support from Downing Street (the office of the British PM). The Prime Minister’s spokesperson said, ‘The ICC must clearly enforce its rules and determine that it is supporting women’s cricket in the same way as the ECB does.’ We therefore support the fact that the ECB is presenting its case to the ICC on this issue. The abuses of women and girls’ rights by the Taliban are clearly appalling. We will work with the ECB on this issue. We are in touch with them. This is an ICC matter regarding the Champions Trophy.
in 2003 England has did not play against zimbabwe
The situation is reminiscent of the dilemma faced by England’s cricketers in the 2003 World Cup. When Nasser Hussein’s team was asked to boycott the group stage match with Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe was ruled by Robert Mugabe. This decision was left up to the players and resulted in some points being lost.