The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has rejected demands to boycott England's Champions Trophy match against Afghanistan scheduled for February 26. These calls, driven by more than 160 British lawmakers, were made in response to the ongoing concerns about the treatment of women under the Taliban regime in Afghanistan. The lawmakers have urged the ECB to protest against human rights abuses in the region. The lawmakers had previously urged ECB and the England cricket team to protest the Taliban's repressive policies curtailing women's rights by imposing bans on education, employment, and sports. They advocated a boycott of the match as a form of protest. The ECB argued that a unilateral boycott would not bring about significant change. Addressing the matter, ECB Chief Executive Richard Gould reaffirmed the board's strong disapproval of the Taliban's policies and highlighted the importance of presenting a united front within the International Cricket Council (ICC). Gould said, “The ECB strongly condemns the treatment of women and girls in Afghanistan under the Taliban regime...The ICC Constitution mandates all member nations to commit to the growth and development of women’s cricket. The ECB has consistently refrained from scheduling bilateral matches with Afghanistan. However, a coordinated, ICC-wide approach would be significantly more impactful than individual actions." Read also: Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi condemn Taliban's ban on women in medicine ECB Highlights Divided Opinions on Afghanistan's Cricket Engagement The ECB’s position reflects ongoing debates about cricket's engagement with Afghanistan under Taliban rule. While Australia had previously canceled a bilateral series in protest of the regime's restrictive policies, the teams have still competed in global tournaments, including the 2023 ODI World Cup and the 2024 T20 World Cup. This issue continues to spark controversy, with critics asserting that allowing Afghanistan’s participation in international events risks legitimizing the Taliban regime. Despite the discord, the ICC has yet to adopt a cohesive approach regarding Afghanistan's role in global cricket.