England’s cricket team captain, Jos Buttler, has firmly rejected the notion of boycotting their upcoming Champions Trophy match against Afghanistan.
Buttler expressed that such a boycott would not address the underlying issues, advocating instead for political matters to be resolved through dialogue, rather than excluding teams from competition.
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This stance comes after more than 160 British politicians urged the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to cancel the February 26 match against Afghanistan, citing concerns over Afghanistan’s political situation.
Since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, the country’s restrictions on women’s involvement in sports have sparked widespread criticism.
Buttler drew a comparison to the 2003 Cricket World Cup, when England faced backlash for refusing to play Zimbabwe under Robert Mugabe’s regime.
He stressed that while political leaders may view the situation differently, players should remain focused on the sport itself and ensure politics do not interfere with the spirit of cricket.
Ahead of the Champions Trophy, England will first take on India in a series of five T20s and three One Day Internationals. The 2025 Champions Trophy campaign will kick off with a match against Australia, and the England-Afghanistan clash is scheduled for February 26 in Lahore.
