London, Jan 7 (UNI) Richard Gould, chief executive of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), has firmly rejected calls for England to boycott their Champions Trophy match against Afghanistan scheduled for February 26 in Lahore, advocating instead for a unified approach led by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
Gould's remarks come amidst mounting pressure from over 160 cross-party politicians, including prominent figures such as Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi, Jeremy Corbyn, Lord Kinnock, and Nigel Farage, who signed a letter condemning the Taliban regime's suppression of women’s rights.
The letter urged England's players and officials to take a stand by refusing to participate, describing the situation in Afghanistan as "sex apartheid" and highlighting the outlawing of women's sport since the Taliban's return to power in 2021.