Jos Buttler urges against boycotting Afghanistan in ICC Champions Trophy 2025 as 'not the right approach'

New Delhi: The upcoming Champions Trophy 2025 match between England and Afghanistan in Lahore on February 26 has become the center of a political controversy. Several British political leaders have voiced their objections and called for the game to be boycotted. Labour Party MP Tonia Antoniazzi has been particularly vocal, addressing her concerns in a letter to Richard Gould, the CEO of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). Antoniazzi criticized the "insidious dystopia" and oppressive treatment of women in Afghanistan under the Taliban regime, urging action to address the situation. This controversy brings to light the ongoing debate on the balance between sports diplomacy and human rights.

Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi called for the English cricketers to abstain from playing Afghanistan in the forthcoming Champions Trophy, arguing that it would send a sharp message against Taliban abuses. The idea was rejected by ECB chief Richard Gould, who stated that ICC must take the lead as unilateral action by one country can hardly address the issue.

As the England captain addressed the growing controversy before the opening T20I at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, he said, “Knowledge is, of course, power.” Buttler confirmed that he spoke to the ECB managing director, Rob Key, about the situation, and he expressed the opinion that a boycott was not the right answer to the problem at hand.

“Political situations like this, as a player you’re trying to be as informed as you can be. The experts know a lot more about it, so I’ve been trying to stay in dialogue with Rob Key and the guys above to see how they see it. I don’t think a boycott is the way to go about it,” Buttler said in the press conference.

“The players haven’t really worried too much about it. You’re trying to educate yourself and read up on these things. There’s been some good stuff written about it that I’ve tapped into and I’ve spoken to quite a few people to try and gather expert opinion. As a player, you don’t want political situations to affect sport. We hope to go to the Champions Trophy and play that game and have a really good tournament,” he added.

In the group stages of the Champions Trophy, England will meet Australia and South Africa. Jos Buttler is under more pressure already due to England’s lackluster performance in qualifying for the 2023 ODI World Cup semi-finals and, hence, for the 2024 T20 World Cup finals. Should England perform poorly in the Champions Trophy, Buttler could be dropped as captain.