NEW DELHI; Following calls for a boycott due to the Taliban regime’s attack on women’s rights, captain Jos Buttler says England’s Champions Trophy match against Afghanistan should go ahead.
More than 160 British lawmakers have written to the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to request that England not participate in the February 26 match in Lahore.
The Taliban have essentially outlawed women’s participation in sports and public life since regaining power in 2021.
This puts the Afghanistan Cricket Board in violation of the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) regulations.
Politics and sports should be kept apart, Buttler argued.
“Political situations like this, as a player you’re trying to be as informed as you can be,” he told reporters ahead of the first T20 against India in Kolkata on Wednesday.
“The experts know a lot more about it, so I’ve been trying to stay in dialogue with Rob Key (managing director of ECB) and the guys above to see how they see it.
“I don’t think a boycott is the way to go about it,” he added.
“Certainly as a player, you don’t want political situations to affect sport. We hope to go to the Champions Trophy and play that game and have a really good tournament.”
In response to calls for a boycott, ECB CEO Richard Gould stated that he would “actively advocate” for the ICC to take collective action.
The Afghanistan men’s team is permitted to continue playing in international tournaments by the ICC.
England are paired with South Africa, Australia, and Afghanistan in the Champions Trophy group stage, which starts on February 19.
