Earlier, there was a long tension between India and Pakistan regarding Champions Trophy 2025. After this, voices of protest have now been raised from England regarding the Champions Trophy match against Afghanistan. More than 160 politicians from England have spoken of boycotting the match against England and Afghanistan in the Champions Trophy 2025. Politicians of England made this request due to the atrocities on women and various restrictions imposed on them under the Taliban rule in Afghanistan. But the England Cricket Board has rejected this request.

ECB rejected the request

Keeping in mind the match between England and Afghanistan, Labor MP Tonia Antoniazzi had written a letter to the England Cricket Board (ECB). It also has signatures of many other leaders. The letter addressed to ECB Chief Executive Richard Gould read, 'We urge the players and officials of the England men's cricket team to raise their voice against the ill-treatment of women and girls in Afghanistan under the Taliban.' England's politicians want England not to play matches against Afghanistan while supporting it. But the ECB rejected this, saying that the Taliban regime's pressure on women's rights is a matter for which coordination can be done within the ICC and not for individual or unilateral countries to take action on this matter.

Gould also said, 'We will continue to dialogue with the UK Government, the ICC and other international cricket boards to explore all possible avenues for meaningful change. The ECB strongly condemns the ill-treatment of women and girls in Afghanistan under the Taliban regime.

Taliban snatched the right to sports from women

Let us tell you that Afghanistan is under Taliban rule since 2021. Apart from other restrictions on Afghan women, the Taliban had also declared their participation in sports illegal. This order of Taliban is against the rules of International Cricket Council (ICC) but Afghanistan's cricket team participates in ICC tournaments. In such a situation, the politicians of England have raised questions that when Taliban wants to keep women away from sports, then why should England play against Afghanistan's cricket team, even if it is a men's cricket team.

England-Afghanistan match will be held on 26 February

Champions Trophy will start from 19th February. This ICC tournament will be played in Pakistan and Dubai. The match between England and Afghanistan will be played on 26 February at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, Pakistan. This will be the second match of both the teams in this tournament. Before this, England will face Australia on 22 February. Whereas on February 21, Afghanistan will face South Africa.