The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) finds itself at the centre of a growing controversy ahead of the team's ICC Champions Trophy fixture against Afghanistan on February 26th. The UK politicians have demanded the board to boycott the fixture as a protest against the Taliban regime's oppressive policies toward women and girls.

Female participation in sport has effectively been outlawed since the Taliban's return to power in 2021, a move that puts the Afghanistan Cricket Board in direct contravention of the International Cricket Council's rules.

England's clash in Lahore under scrutiny after cross-party group of politicians raise concerns

A group of British lawmakers urged England to boycott their Champions Trophy match against Afghanistan next month, saying the country's cricket board (ECB) needed to take a stand against the Taliban's crackdown on women.

England’s cricket authorities have rejected calls to boycott an upcoming match against Afghanistan in the ICC Champions Trophy over the Taliban’s oppression of women and girls. Richard Gould, the chief executive of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB),

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has declined a request from over 160 lawmakers to boycott their Champions Trophy 2025 match against Afghanistan. The calls for boycott of ENG vs AFG CT 2025 match stemmed from concerns over Taliban's severe restrictions on women's rights in Afghanistan.