Champions Trophy 2025: England, Afghanistan match faces boycott calls

England’s ICC Champions Trophy 2025 match against Afghanistan, scheduled for February 26 in Lahore, is under threat as the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) faces calls to boycott the game. The calls come in response to the Taliban government’s treatment of women in Afghanistan.  

The Taliban, who took control of Afghanistan in 2021, have faced global criticism for banning women from education, sports, and other public activities. These restrictions have also impacted Afghanistan’s compliance with ICC rules, which require all Full Members to have a women’s cricket team. Afghanistan remains the only Full Member without one.  

Around 160 British lawmakers, including figures like Nigel Farage and Jeremy Corbyn, have urged the ECB to take a stand. They argue that playing against Afghanistan would indirectly support the regime’s oppressive policies.  

In their statement, the lawmakers called on the ECB to “speak out against the horrific treatment of women and girls in Afghanistan under the Taliban.”  

Richard Gould, the ECB’s chief executive, expressed strong condemnation of the Taliban’s actions.  

“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, the ECB has not scheduled any bilateral matches against Afghanistan.”  

Despite this, the Champions Trophy is an ICC event, meaning England cannot unilaterally withdraw without ICC approval.  
  
The England-Afghanistan match is part of Group B, which also includes Australia and South Africa. Group A features Pakistan, India, New Zealand, and Bangladesh.  

The tournament will take place in Pakistan and the UAE, with India playing all its matches in Dubai due to political tensions. England’s game against Afghanistan remains scheduled for Lahore, pending further developments.  

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will begin on February 19, with England’s first game set for February 23 against South Africa.