Tennis icon Martina Navratilova has strongly backed feminist activist Jean Hatchet’s call for the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to boycott their ICC Champions Trophy match against Afghanistan. Navratilova criticized the ECB for failing to take a stand against the Taliban’s oppressive treatment of women.
Hatchet has been vocal about the lack of scrutiny on Afghanistan’s participation in international cricket despite the Taliban’s severe restrictions on women’s rights. She urged the ECB to withdraw from the England-Afghanistan match, scheduled for February 26, 2025, in Lahore, Pakistan, emphasizing the need for greater accountability.
“It is 3 days until England v Afghanistan in ICC Champions Trophy. The Taliban are not being criticised for their gross daily abuses of women. Their team are playing largely uncriticised in the press. We call again for England and Wales Cricket Board to boycott the match and we will protest against them on 25th Feb. 4pm. Grace gate entrance. Lords. London,” Hatchet wrote.
Navratilova amplified Hatchet’s message by sharing her post on X (formerly Twitter), adding: “Cowards. Cowards for not standing up for women in Afghanistan.”
Since the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021, women have faced severe restrictions, including bans on secondary and higher education, employment in most sectors, and access to public spaces such as parks and gyms. Despite this, Afghanistan’s men’s cricket team continues to compete internationally, while its women’s team has been completely barred from participation.
Journalist Raf Nicholson previously condemned the ICC in June 2024 for allowing Afghanistan’s men’s team to train and compete globally while failing to support its women’s squad. Navratilova echoed these concerns, sharing Nicholson’s post and denouncing the ICC’s male-dominated leadership.
“Shame on all these men who keep giving male athletes every advantage possible denying same for women athletes,” Navratilova wrote.
Afghanistan remains the only full ICC member without an active women’s cricket team, as the Taliban continues to prohibit women from playing the sport. Critics argue that by allowing Afghanistan’s men’s team to compete without consequences, the ICC is enabling gender inequality in sports.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Stay ahead of the latest cricket industry trends by subscribing to our free cricexec “daily briefing” newsletter.
Photo Credit: Instagram Photo of @martinanavratilova
