England batter Ollie Pope has withdrawn his name from the draft for the inaugural Afghanistan Premier League (APL), a T20 competition scheduled to take place in the United Arab Emirates later this year. Pope's decision comes as cricket boards and players navigate ethical considerations surrounding engagement with Afghanistan following the Taliban's return to power.
While Pope is a centrally contracted England player, and thus would require approval from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for participation, his withdrawal from the draft is understood to be an independent choice. Rob Key, England's director of cricket, had previously stated his personal view that he would not play in the league, although he acknowledged the legal complexities in preventing centrally contracted players from participating.
"Legally it is hard to stop players going over and playing in these competitions," Key told the Test Match Special podcast. "It becomes a moral judgement and players have to be prepared to take the right moral stance. Personally, and it is easy for me to say, I would not go and play. But it is down to the player to make that decision."
The ECB has not scheduled bilateral cricket with Afghanistan since the Taliban regained control of the country in 2021. ECB chair Richard Thompson has publicly condemned the Taliban's policies, particularly their impact on women and girls, referring to it as "gender apartheid." Despite this stance, England has continued to compete against Afghanistan in global tournaments such as World Cups and the Champions Trophy.
Key confirmed he had discussed the matter with Pope, stating, "I had that conversation and Ollie will have to make his decision." Pope, who has not played international cricket since December of the previous year, was recently handed a new 12-month England contract and has served as captain on six occasions.
Concerns about participating in the league have been voiced by others. Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi had previously called for a boycott of matches against Afghanistan, questioning the participation of players, especially those with daughters, sisters, or mothers, in light of the restrictions on women and girls in Afghanistan. She also urged the International Cricket Council (ICC) to reconsider Afghanistan's full member status.
Other England players, including Dawid Malan, Moeen Ali, James Vince, and James Rew, are reportedly entered into the APL draft. Malan acknowledged the difficult position players face, balancing moral considerations with their professional obligations. "As a player it is tough because you have what is morally right and what is by the law," Malan said. "I have a daughter and I want her to play sport and get into sport and enjoy it. I fully understand the argument, but at the end of the day I am a cricketer and need to be able to pay my rent and be able to earn a living while I can."
He also pointed out the perceived inconsistency, noting that England continues to play Afghanistan in World Cups despite not engaging in bilateral series. "England don't play bilateral series against Afghanistan, but they do play them in World Cups – what's the difference?" Malan questioned. "As players, you sometimes want a board decision to be made that says 'we don't think this is right, we are making a stance against it', then the players will buy into it."
Dean Ahmad, an agent representing some players, raised a similar point about consistency in applying moral standards. "Morality in sport matters, but so does consistency," he wrote on X. "The Taliban's treatment of women is indefensible. Yet why are cricketers singled out while governments and corporations maintain ties with states accused of serious human rights abuses. Selective outrage isn't morality."