[Cricket] ECB And Afghanistan Fixture Boycott

[Eeyore]

England-Afghanistan boycott calls: ECB want ICC-wide approach to Champions Trophy issue

The England and Wales Cricket Board calls for a unified response to action against Afghanistan amid calls for the England men's team to boycott next month's Champions Trophy match against the country.

www.bbc.co.uk

Whilst I am uncomfortable when politicians make sport about politics, and sometimes social issues, I feel this stand is correct. Women and girls are denied the right to proper participation in sport in Afghanistan. The female cricketers had to flee.

So this is really taking issue about the attitudes to those who play the sport in question. My hope is that other nations follow suit in cricket.

I'd be interested to hear the thoughts of the NSC cricket crew.

 

[GT49er]

Good for the England and Wales Cricket Board! We marched against playing sport against racist South Africa, and faced police baton charges and galloping police horses, but we won the day and the South Africans were booted out of international sport, and the apartheid regime crumbled and collapsed. It is arguable that the people of South Africa are no better off today under their present corrupt government, but that's another story.
Absolutely in favour of a boycott - even if Nigel Farage also supports it, it's still the right thing to do.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

Good for the England and Wales Cricket Board! We marched against playing sport against racist South Africa, and faced police baton charges and galloping police horses, but we won the day and the South Africans were booted out of international sport, and the apartheid regime crumbled and collapsed. It is arguable that the people of South Africa are no better off today under their present corrupt government, but that's another story.
Absolutely in favour of a boycott - even if Nigel Farage also supports it, it's still the right thing to do.

A broken clock, in a ditch, covered in dogshit, is right twice a day.

 

[Kalimantan Gull]

We probably won't, but I'm happy it's finally being talked about. At the last world cup everyone seemed to be feting Afghanistan and it sat very uneasy with me.

 

[rippleman]

It really is not before time.

There is a semblance of an Afghan womens team who are based in Australia but as a "refugee time" because the misgonystic bastards who run Afghan cricket will not allow women to play. It has been many years since the ICC amended their rules to say that any country who wish to participate in mens international cricket must also have a similar international set-up for the female of the species. It's just that the ICC has never enforced it.

Hopefully the ECB follows through with the boycott and other right thinking nations follow.

If Afghanistan wants to play international cricket then it must let their women play. It should be that simple.

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

I also support. Albeit with the heavy heart of someone who wishes the team of Afghanistan to do well.

 

[dsr-burnley]

England-Afghanistan boycott calls: ECB want ICC-wide approach to Champions Trophy issue

The England and Wales Cricket Board calls for a unified response to action against Afghanistan amid calls for the England men's team to boycott next month's Champions Trophy match against the country.

www.bbc.co.uk

Whilst I am uncomfortable when politicians make sport about politics, and sometimes social issues. I feel this stand is correct. Women and girls are denied the right to proper participation in sport in Afghanistan. The female cricketers had to flee.

So this is really taking issue about the attitudes to those who play the sport in question. My hope is that other nations follow suit in cricket.

I'd be interested to hear the thoughts of the NSC cricket crew.

It doesn't even need to be about politics per se. The South African boycott was not because of apartheid in general, but because they wouldn't let Basil D'Oliveira tour to South Africa. Similarly, this boycott can be about the specific issue that they won't let women play cricket (which ICB rules say they must) rather than any general protest about the gender-based apartheid in Afghanistan.

 

[carlzeiss]

If women playing sports is forbidden under their Islamic law then shirley we should respect that otherwise we are just being Islamophobic and no one wants to be tarred with that brush these days do they

Afghan women to be banned from playing sport, Taliban say

National cricket team included in prohibition, as interim government containing no women starts work

www.theguardian.com

“I don’t think women will be allowed to play cricket because it is not necessary that women should play cricket,” Wasiq said. “In cricket, they might face a situation where their face and body will not be covered. Islam does not allow women to be seen like this.

“It is the media era, and there will be photos and videos, and then people watch it. Islam and the Islamic Emirate [Afghanistan] do not allow women to play cricket or play the kind of sports where they get exposed.”

 

[Peacehaven Wild Kids]

A broken clock, in a ditch, covered in dogshit, is right twice a day.

Reading the article I noticed Corbyn and Kinnock have signed it, probably because it’s the right thing to do meanwhile Farage has signed it because they’re a bunch of towel heads.
I reckon the ECB want a boycott because last time played them we lost.

 

[Albion my Albion]

I frequent a few gyms in the Chicago area near two different Chicago airports. The muslim women at these gyms have no trouble covering their bodies while working out. I don't understand this thinking at all.

“I don’t think women will be allowed to play cricket because it is not necessary that women should play cricket,” Wasiq said. “In cricket, they might face a situation where their face and body will not be covered. Islam does not allow women to be seen like this.

 

[GT49er]

It doesn't even need to be about politics per se. The South African boycott was not because of apartheid in general.......

Yes it was.

....................but because they wouldn't let Basil D'Oliveira tour to South Africa.

The protest marches and the police baton charges took place in the rugby tour; they were sufficient to stop the cricket tour, because the police realised they couldn't protect the test matches over 5 days of a test match.

Similarly, this boycott can be about the specific issue that they won't let women play cricket (which ICB rules say they must)

It is.

rather than any general protest about the gender-based apartheid in Afghanistan.

If women playing sports is forbidden under their Islamic law then shirley we should respect that otherwise we are just being Islamophobic............

No, we'd just be being labelled as Islamophobic by some prats; they'll probably cite racism too.

 

[carlzeiss]

I frequent a few gyms in the Chicago area near two different Chicago airports. The muslim women at these gyms have no trouble covering their bodies while working out. I don't understand this thinking at all.

Maybe because Chicago is in the USA and not Afghanistan ?

 

[Eeyore]

Reading the article I noticed Corbyn and Kinnock have signed it, probably because it’s the right thing to do meanwhile Farage has signed it because they’re a bunch of towel heads.
I reckon the ECB want a boycott because last time played them we lost.

Nigel Farage will often make statements that are fair and correct. My problem with him and those behind him is not that they don't say truths sometimes but the heart with which they are said. The truth is often told with hate and murky agenda

But moving back to the point in hand, I don't think Afghanistani men should be banned from international domestic competitions, but I do feel that the international team should be sidelined. I think the Aussies are of the same view.

 

[Eeyore]

Maybe because Chicago is in the USA and not Afghanistan ?

Can we get this back to cricket now. I think your point has been registered buddy.

 

[ManOfSussex]

Australia were the first to pull out of playing Afghanistan in a series, first in 2021, again in 2023 and also last year. Rashid Khan, who took 11 wickets in Afghanistan's Test win against Zimbabwe yesterday, wasn't too happy about it I seem to recall.

The comparisons with apartheid South Africa and cricket are obvious. I'm sure some will take the Sir Gubby Allen position of then that cricket and politics shouldn't mix, it's not the fault of the Afghan cricketing authorities and we don't want to lose a cricketing nation etc.

The big difference to apartheid South Africa and Afghanistan though is India. The Indian Government, along with the BCCI were massive opponents of apartheid South Africa. Like it or not, India calls the shots in world cricket now. Where is the Indian Government/BCCI/Star Sports opposition to Afghanistan playing? They hosted them last year in a 3 match T20i series. Afghanistan are now one of five Asian Test playing countries. There needs to be Indian opposition to them playing.

 

[Eeyore]

Australia were the first to pull out of playing Afghanistan in series, first in 2021, again in 2023 and also last year. Rashid Khan, who took 11 wickets in Afghanistan's Test win against Zimbabwe yesterday, wasn't too happy about it I seem to recall.

The comparisons with apartheid South Africa and cricket are obvious. I'm sure some will take the Sir Gubby Allen position of then that cricket and politics shouldn't mix, it's not the fault of the Afghan cricketing authorities and we don't want to lose a cricketing nation etc.

The big difference to apartheid South Africa and Afghanistan though is India. The Indian Government, along with the BCCI were massive opponents of apartheid South Africa. Like it or not, India calls the shots in world cricket now. Where is the Indian Government/BCCI/Star Sports opposition to Afghanistan playing? They hosted them last year in a 3 match T20i series. Afghanistan are now one of five Asian Test playing countries. There needs to be Indian opposition to them playing.

 

[rippleman]

Reading the article I noticed Corbyn and Kinnock have signed it, probably because it’s the right thing to do meanwhile Farage has signed it because they’re a bunch of towel heads.
I reckon the ECB want a boycott because last time played them we lost.

Why do we keep playing Australia then?

 

[MiniatureSeagull]

India will only see a boycott by Australia and England as an easier path to victory.

Champions Trophy is Mickey Mouse anyway so let's boycott.

 

[rippleman]

I frequent a few gyms in the Chicago area near two different Chicago airports. The muslim women at these gyms have no trouble covering their bodies while working out. I don't understand this thinking at all.

There is no thinking.

But you are quite right. Abtaha Maqsood is a Muslim and has represented Scotland(and Phoenix, Middlesex and Sunrisers). She made her international debut (for Scotlands U17s) at the age of 12. She has no problems playing in a hijab.

Absolutely no reason at all why Afghan women shouldn't be playing cricket - except for Afghan men. They don't want their women to have careers or any meaningful education and certainly not to play / enjoy sport.

If boycotting the mens team is the only road to allowing the women to play, then I'm all for it.

 

[dsr-burnley]

I frequent a few gyms in the Chicago area near two different Chicago airports. The muslim women at these gyms have no trouble covering their bodies while working out. I don't understand this thinking at all.

This isn't "thinking" and it can't be understood. The Taliban have banned kitchens from having windows in case a man looks in and sees a woman.

Taliban bans windows to stop women from being seen at home

Buildings should not have windows looking into places where women could be sitting or standing, Taliban leader orders

www.independent.co.uk