The upcoming cricket match between England and Afghanistan should proceed despite calls for a boycott due to the Taliban's treatment of women, according to the Culture Secretary. A coalition of over 160 Members of Parliament and peers has signed a letter urging the England and Wales Cricket Board to withdraw from next month’s Champions Trophy match in Lahore as a moral stance against the Taliban's ongoing violations of women's rights. Cabinet minister Lisa Nandy expressed that the match should take place to avoid penalizing the players, although she recommended that British dignitaries refrain from attending. “I believe it should go ahead,” the Culture Secretary stated during an interview on BBC Breakfast regarding the potential boycott.

She further remarked, “I am inherently cautious about sports boycotts, as they can be counterproductive. They deprive sports fans of the events they cherish and can unjustly affect the athletes who have dedicated themselves to reaching the pinnacle of their sport, denying them the chance to compete. These athletes should not be punished for the reprehensible actions of the Taliban against women and girls.” Nonetheless, she emphasized that the UK should not extend a warm welcome at the event, drawing parallels to her position on the 2022 Winter Olympics in China. Ms Nandy noted, “During China’s hosting of the Winter Olympics, I was outspoken, along with many others, about ensuring that we did not send dignitaries to that event, thereby denying them the public relations advantage they sought while they were forcibly detaining the Uighurs in Xinjiang.” The England and Wales Cricket Board is opposed to taking unilateral action by forfeiting the match, with chief executive Richard Gould advocating for a coordinated response from the International Cricket Council. This position has received support from Number 10, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s official spokesperson suggesting that the responsibility should remain.

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