Call for England-Afghanistan boycott: MP says players have ‘power’ to refuse to play Champions Trophy match

England’s male players have the “power” to stand their ground and refuse to play Afghanistan in the Champions Trophy, according to Labor MP Tonia Antoniazzi.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) met Antoniazzi on Tuesday after he sent a cross-party letter to the governing body, signed by almost 200 UK politicians, calling on the ECB to boycott the match. Was done.

Those British politicians want the team to refuse to play a 50-over match in Lahore on 26 February and take a stance against the Taliban regime’s attack on women’s rights.

Women’s participation in sports has been effectively outlawed since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, and many of Afghanistan’s female players have left the country for their safety.

In the wake of his meeting with the ECB, where the governing body maintained its non-committal position on the boycott, Antoniazzi told BBC Sport that England players can choose their stance on the issue.

The MP for Gower said, “The power lies in the team. The power lies in the people who play the game. The power lies with them – it’s in their hands.”

“How big is England cricket? It’s huge. They have a huge place and influence in the world of sport, and I want them to realize that they should use that influence to make a change.”

The Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA) declined to comment on the possibility of individual England players potentially boycotting the match, but told BBC Sport it was “an extremely complex issue”.

A spokesperson said: “The PCA is shocked by the appalling treatment of women and girls under Taliban rule in Afghanistan.

“The PCA is continuing discussions with the ECB and the World Cricketers’ Association on this matter.”

Since the matter relates to the views of individual players, the ECB did not deem it appropriate to comment.