England have decided to play against Afghanistan in the Champions Trophy match in Lahore on February 26, despite calls for a boycott from over 160 British politicians. The ECB believes that a coordinated international approach will be more effective and wants to support ordinary Afghans who gain enjoyment from watching their national team.

The England Cricket Board announced in a statement on Thursday that the cricketing board has decided to go ahead with the Champions Trophy 2025 encounter against Afghanistan amidst calls for a boycott of the game.

There is growing pressure on England to boycott February’s Champions Trophy match against Afghanistan, but for those living under Taliban rule cricket provides “a moment of peace in a lifetime of struggles”.

England's Champions Trophy match against Afghanistan will go ahead, despite calls for a boycott. A cross-party letter, signed by nearly 200 UK politicians, was sent to the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) asking for England to refuse to play in response to the Taliban's human rights record.

The England and Wales Cricket Board faced calls to boycott the fixture in a show of solidarity with Afghanistans women, who are in exile due to a clampdown on female rights under the Taliban regime; w