Champions Trophy: ECB Confirms England Will Play Match Against Afghanistan Amid Calls For Boycott
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has confirmed that England's men's team will play their scheduled ICC Men's Champions Trophy 2025 fixture against Afghanistan, scheduled on February 26 in Lahore, despite growing calls for a boycott due to the severe oppression of women's rights in Afghanistan under the Taliban regime. ECB Chair Richard Thompson acknowledged the widespread concerns over gender discrimination in Afghanistan and emphasised the importance of a coordinated international response rather than unilateral action.