England's match against Afghanistan in the 2025 Cricket Champions Trophy is in jeopardy due to restrictions imposed by the Taliban government on women in the country. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) was asked to boycott the match against Afghanistan.
The ruling Taliban government in Afghanistan has been severely criticized for its restrictions on women's rights. Since they took control of the country in 2021, women and girls have been denied their rights.
Schools were closed and women's higher education was jeopardized by the closure of girls' colleges. While some women have been able to leave the country to seek asylum in different countries, others still face the brunt.
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The England Champions Cup match against Afghanistan is in danger
About 160 members of the British Parliament have urged the European Central Bank to withdraw from the FA Champions Cup match against Afghanistan because of the restrictions and atrocities it has imposed on women since taking power in the country.
In Britain, there are two houses of parliament known as the House of Commons and the House of Lords. They included UK reform leader Nigel Farage and former Labor leader Jeremy Corbyn. They both urged the council to “speak out against the horrific treatment of women and girls in Afghanistan under Taliban rule.”
The Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 2021 when US forces left the country after being there for two decades. Since then, women have been prohibited from receiving any kind of education and playing sports.
The country's women's cricket team was also destabilized once the Taliban took power. It violates the International Cricket Council (ICC) regulations governing cricket boards which require all full members to have a women's team. Afghanistan is the only full member that does not currently have a women's team.
European Central Bank CEO talks about Taliban atrocities
European Central Bank CEO Richard Gould has condemned the treatment of women under the Taliban regime. He also claims to have maintained the ECB's position of not scheduling any bilateral series against Afghanistan.
“The ECB strongly condemns the treatment of women and girls in Afghanistan under the Taliban regime. The ICC Constitution stipulates the commitment of all member states to the growth and development of women's cricket,” Gould said.
“In line with this commitment, the ECB has maintained its position of not scheduling any bilateral cricket matches against Afghanistan,” he added.
Match schedule
England's match against Afghanistan is scheduled to be held in Lahore on February 26. These two teams are in Group Two, along with Australia and South Africa. The other group includes Bangladesh, India, New Zealand and the host Pakistan.
The 2025 Champions Cup will be played in Pakistan and the UAE. All teams except India will play their matches in Pakistan. India will not travel to Pakistan and will play all their matches in the UAE. If India manages to qualify for the knockout rounds, they will play in Dubai.
