The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has addressed the growing calls for a boycott of the England vs. Afghanistan match at the ICC Champions Trophy. Pressure is mounting on the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to withdraw from the match scheduled for February 26 in Lahore. Over 160 English politicians have urged the ECB to take a stand, citing concerns over ‘gender apartheid’ in Afghanistan.
Support for the boycott extends beyond England. South Africa’s Sports Minister, Gayton McKenzie, has also expressed agreement with those advocating for England to forfeit the match. However, the ECB has no plans to comply with these demands.
Richard Gould, chief executive of the English board, has openly criticized the Taliban government for its treatment of women and the dissolution of Afghanistan’s women’s cricket team. Despite this, he has confirmed that England’s men’s team will go ahead with the fixture at the ICC Champions Trophy.
Meanwhile, ACB CEO Naseeb Khan has welcomed the ECB’s decision, expressing satisfaction that the Afghanistan team is not being held accountable for actions taken by their government.
“We welcome the statement from the England Cricket Board. Our goal has always been to compete against full-member nations not only in ICC and major tournaments but also in bilateral events as well. We have operated under challenging circumstances, yet our progress would not have been possible without the unwavering support of member countries, the ICC, and the ACC,” Naseeb told Cricbuzz.
“We firmly believe that political matters should be resolved through diplomatic channels or on the table, not on the cricket ground, and must be kept separate from sports. As a cricket board, our jurisdiction is limited to the game itself, just as it is for other cricket boards worldwide. The Afghan nation has the right to cherish and celebrate cricket as a source of joy and unity after years of hardship,” he added.
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Name of Author: Cricexec Staff
