England captain Jos Buttler backed the ECB's decision to play Afghanistan in the Champions Trophy despite boycott calls, expressing concern for Afghan women but hoping sport can unite. Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi distanced cricket from politics,

Protests against one-day international match in Lahore rejected regardless of rulers' clampdown on female rights

Tennis legend Martina Navratilova has voiced her strong support for feminist activist Jean Hatchet's call to boycott the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy match between England and Afghanistan.

England captain Jos Buttler and his team choose to play Afghanistan, despite the Taliban's repression of women, highlighting sport's potential to offer hope in hard times. Buttler emphasizes the support they received from the ECB and their focus on the match's unifying power.

Afghanistan’s players are fully aware of the challenges in their home country, says coach Jonathan Trott, amid criticism of the Taliban’s

LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi won the toss and elected to bat against England in a must-win Champions Trophy game for both teams on Wednesday. The loser of the match will be knocked out of semifinal contention in Group B.

COMMENT: If England’s governing body had any backbone, they would have refused this match, writes . And if the ICC had any principles, Afghanistan would have been sidelined until it respected the basi

On the day the Champions Trophy began in Pakistan, Sydney-based former international taekwondo medallist Roman Abasy came across a photograph that made his stomach sink. Watch live coverage of the 2025 Women’s Premier League cricket on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo?

Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi has expressed his support for Afghan women to play cricket but mentioned that the situation is beyond his control. Speaking ahead of Afghanistan’s crucial ICC Champions Trophy 2025 match against England, Shahidi pointed out that his team’s focus is on cricket and their performances on the field.

What is happening in Afghanistan,” declared Richard Thompson, chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board, “is nothing short of gender apartheid.”