English Cricketers Face Scrutiny Over Afghanistan Premier League Participation
Players urged to consider implications of playing in a tournament organized by Afghanistan's cricket board amid concerns over women's rights.
English cricketers considering participation in a men's T20 franchise tournament organized by the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) are facing calls to reflect on the broader implications, particularly in light of the Taliban's policies towards women and girls.
The inaugural edition of the Afghanistan Premier League (APL) is scheduled to take place in the United Arab Emirates later this year. Several English players, including Ollie Pope, Luke Wood, Moeen Ali, Reece Topley, James Vince, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, and Laurie Evans, have registered for the tournament draft.
This development occurs despite the England and Wales Cricket Board's (ECB) policy of not scheduling bilateral men's cricket matches against Afghanistan. The ECB's stance stems from the Taliban's documented treatment of women and girls. However, the ECB's policy does not extend to franchise tournaments, leaving individual players to make their own decisions regarding participation. It is anticipated that the ECB will issue No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to players, provided the tournament receives sanctioning from the International Cricket Council (ICC).
The ACB has submitted an application to the ICC for approval to stage the tournament, which is currently under review. Last year, ECB chair Richard Thompson described the Taliban's actions as "gender apartheid."
Calls for Reconsideration
Tonia Antoniazzi, a Labour MP who previously advocated for boycotting matches against Afghanistan, has urged players considering the APL to carefully weigh the consequences. "Women and girls in Afghanistan are denied the same rights as those in our country, and the women's team lives in exile," Antoniazzi stated. "Does that not concern the players, especially those with daughters, sisters or mothers?"
Antoniazzi also expressed hope that the ICC would refuse to sanction the event, suggesting that allowing Afghanistan full-member status undermines the ICC's own membership criteria.
Felix Jakens of Amnesty International advised players to give serious thought to participating in a tournament organized by a cricket board from a country that has "erased women and girls from public life." He highlighted that since 2021, Afghan women have been banned from playing sports, and girls are barred from education beyond the age of 11. Jakens implored players and the ECB to consider the message participation sends to Afghan girls and to use their platforms to advocate for the reversal of the Taliban's policies.
Afghanistan's women cricketers have been operating as a refugee team since the Taliban's return to power, receiving funding from the ICC as well as the cricket boards of England, India, and Australia. In July, the ICC extended its funding for the Afghan women's team until 2032 and committed to facilitating their participation in future qualification events.
The five-team APL is slated to commence on December 27. Players from Ireland and Scotland, including Jai Moondra and Brandon McMullen, have also registered for the APL draft.