England have decided to play against Afghanistan in the Champions Trophy match in Lahore on February 26, despite calls for a boycott from over 160 British politicians. The ECB believes that a coordinated international approach will be more effective and wants to support ordinary Afghans who gain enjoyment from watching their national team.

The ECB have confirmed that the tournament fixture will go ahead despite calls for England to boycott over the Taliban’s treatment of women

Boycott would kill off ‘one of the few things that brings happiness’; Plus, ICC told to ‘wake up’ to Afghan women’s plight

England's Champions Trophy match against Afghanistan will go ahead, despite calls for a boycott. A cross-party letter, signed by nearly 200 UK politicians, was sent to the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) asking for England to refuse to play in response to the Taliban's human rights record.

More than 160 British politicians had called for a boycott as female participation in sport has effectively been outlawed since the Taliban's return to power in 2021.

The England and Wales Cricket Board faced calls to boycott the fixture in a show of solidarity with Afghanistans women, who are in exile due to a clampdown on female rights under the Taliban regime; w