ECB rejects calls for England to boycott Afghanistan match in 2025 Champions Trophy

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. 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.

"The ECB strongly condemns the treatment of women and girls in Afghanistan under the Taliban regime," Gould wrote. "The ICC constitution mandates that all member nations are committed to the growth and development of women's cricket. In line with this commitment, the ECB has maintained its position of not scheduling any bilateral cricket matches against Afghanistan," he continued.

Gould called for the ICC to take a call on taking a moral stance against the plight of women in Afghanistan. "While there has not been a consensus on further international action within the ICC, the ECB will continue to actively advocate for such measures. A coordinated, ICC-wide approach would be significantly more impactful than unilateral actions by individual members.