Why are MPs calling for England to boycott cricket match?
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Hundreds of British politicians have called on the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to boycott next month's Champions Trophy match against Afghanistan. MPs and peers from across parliament, including Nigel Farage, Jeremy Corbyn, and Lord Kinnock, called for the England men's one day international side to refuse the fixture which is set for 26 February in Lahore, Pakistan.
Led by Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi, many in Westminster have said the boycott would be a way to take a stand against the Taliban regime's assault on women's rights. . What have MPs said?. In a post on X on Monday, Ms Antoniazzi, who is the MP for Gower in southwest Wales, said she has written a strongly worded letter to the ECB urging it to "speak out against the Taliban's unconscionable oppression of women and girls".
She said the letter has gained more than 160 signatures from people across political parties and in both the House of Commons and House of Lords. The message, addressed to ECB chief executive Richard Gould, said: "We strongly urge the England men's team players and officials to speak out against the horrific treatment of women and girls in Afghanistan under the Taliban.
"We also urge the ECB to consider a boycott of the upcoming match against Afghanistan... to send a clear signal that such grotesque abuses will not be tolerated. "We must stand against sex apartheid and we implore the ECB to deliver a firm message of solidarity and hope to Afghan women and girls that their suffering has not been overlooked.".
