Jos Buttler & Naveen-u-Haq. Pic Credits: X

ICC Champions Trophy 2025 : Jos Buttler Reveals His Stance On Afghanistan Boycott Issue Ahead Of Marquee Tournament

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England T20I captain Jos Buttler said on Tuesday that boycotting Afghanistan in the 2025 Champions Trophy is not ‘the way to go’ amid political pressure to do so back home due to the Taliban regime’s discriminatory practices. Jos Buttler  added that he is staying ‘educated’ about the situation and has left the decision to the ‘experts’.

England and Afghanistan will play each other on February 26 in Lahore. The match has become a huge point of discussion in English political circles, with the matter even making its way into the parliament.

The England  and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has said that their men’s team will not boycott their fixture against Afghanistan in the 2025 Champions Trophy. The statement comes in response to calls from a group of British politicians for England to boycott the match in protest against the ruling Taliban regime’s effective outlawing of women’s rights. England are due to face Afghanistan in Lahore on February 26 in their second match of the tournament.

England are already not playing any bilateral cricket with Afghanistan as a moral protest against the issue. The last ODI match between the two sides was in the 2023 World Cup where Afghanistan recorded a famous 69-run win over England. The England and Wales Cricket Board has been urged to boycott next month’s Champions Trophy match against Afghanistan, although UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has called for the International Cricket Council to “deliver their own rules”.

Politicians urge ECB to boycott England’s Champions Trophy game vs Afghanistan as Sir Keir Starmer calls for ICC decision

The England and Wales Cricket Board has been urged to boycott next month’s Champions Trophy match against Afghanistan, although UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has called for the International Cricket Council to “deliver their own rules”. A group of more than 160 politicians, including Nigel Farage, Jeremy Corbyn and Lord Kinnock, have signed a letter encouraging England to shun the game in Lahore on February 26 and take a stand against the Taliban regime’s assault on women’s rights.

Female participation in sport has effectively been outlawed since their return to power in 2021, a move that puts the Afghanistan Cricket Board in direct contravention of the rules of cricket’s governing body, the ICC.

ECB chief executive Richard Gould responded to the letter, which was penned by Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi, saying that “a coordinated, ICC-wide approach would be significantly more impactful than unilateral actions by individual members.”

That stance has been backed by Downing Street with the PM’s spokesman saying: “The ICC should clearly deliver on their own rules and make sure that they’re supporting women’s cricket as the ECB do. ECB chief executive Richard Gould has said that while its policy on bilaterals continues to be the same, it will be playing Afghanistan in the Champions Trophy as the tournament is an ICC event.

England refuse boycott of Afghanistan in 2025 Champions Trophy

England are set to face Afghanistan in their group-stage fixture of the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan. However, the England Cricket Board (ECB) received a letter from a group of British politicians to boycott the game against Afghanistan.

ECB chief Richard Gould has rejected the calls, refusing to boycott Afghanistan in the 2025 Champions Trophy. Gould stated that while the Taliban regime has curbed women’s rights in Afghanistan, the matter needs a response that is coordinated by the International Cricket Council (ICC) and not an individual nation alone.

England are scheduled to encounter Afghanistan on February 26 in Lahore. The ECB received a letter from Tonia Antoniazzi, the Labour MP. The letter was also signed by over 160 politicians, putting the ECB under pressure to boycott the Afghanistan clash.

The letter addressed concerns over women’s rights in Afghanistan. Since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, women’s sports in the country have also been outlawed. Afghanistan (men’s team) have played England only on two occasions since then, however, only at ICC events.

England captain Jos Buttler believes their Champions Trophy match against Afghanistan next month should go ahead despite calls for a boycott. This month, more than 160 U.K. politicians signed a letter arguing that England should refuse to play the men’s one-day international in Lahore, Pakistan, on Feb. 26 to take a stand against the Taliban regime’s assault on women’s rights.

Jos Buttler reveals his stance on Afghanistan boycott issue ahead of 2025 Champions Trophy

England white-ball skipper Jos Buttler has stated that political situations shouldn’t affect sport amid calls for the team to boycott Afghanistan in the upcoming 2025 Champions Trophy.

A group of over 160 parliamentary members in England signed a letter this month addressed to ECB’s chief executive Richard Gould urging them to boycott England’s fixture against Afghanistan on February 26. The calls for boycott come amid women not being allowed to take part in sport since the Taliban returned to power in 2021.

The Lancashire cricketer Jos Buttler  stated the players “haven’t really worried too much about it” and are planning to play against Afghanistan. As quoted by The Guardian, he stated:

“The players haven’t really worried too much about it. These things, you’re trying to educate yourself and read up on these things. There’s been some good stuff written about it that I’ve tapped into and I’ve spoken to quite a few people to try and gather expert opinion.

I’m led by those experts on situations like this, but 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.”

Afghanistan had defeated England, who were the defending champions, in the 2023 World Cup fixture in Delhi. It proved to be the team’s first victory over England in any format.

Jos Buttler added that he has been in dialogue with the ECB and its members over the issue, adding:

“Political situations like this, as a player you’re trying to be as informed as you can be. The experts know a lot more about it, so I’ve been trying to stay in dialogue with Rob Key [ECB men’s managing director] and the guys above to see how they see it. I don’t think a boycott is the way to go about it.”

Afghanistan cricket team is establishing itself as a formidable opposition in the last 18 months or so, Australia, England, and South Africa – who are placed alongside them in Group B – will be wary of them in the Champions Trophy. England are India to play a five-T20I and three-ODI series. The T20Is will begin at the Eden Gardens on Wednesday (January 22). England will start their Champions Trophy campaign against Australia on February 22.

Also Read: IND vs ENG: “Side Arm Specialists In India Need To Work Hard To Prepare Batters For Tough Times”- Abhishek Jain Gives His Invaluable Insights

 

 


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