Khashif Talks Unlock Knowledge & Explore with Khashif Talks!
England Captain Stresses Unity Over Political Boycotts
England captain Jos Buttler has stated that a boycott of the scheduled match against Afghanistan in the Champions Trophy 2025 is not the appropriate course of action. The match, set for February 26 in Lahore, has drawn political scrutiny due to the Taliban regime’s treatment of women in Afghanistan.
Political Pressure and England’s Response
The controversy began with a letter from Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi to ECB Chief Executive Richard Gould, signed by over 160 British politicians. The letter condemned the Taliban’s ban on women participating in sports and urged England to boycott the game to make a statement against these abuses.
However, Gould rejected the call, advocating for a “coordinated, ICC-led response” instead of unilateral actions by individual teams. His stance was supported by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Lisa Nandy, the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport, who warned against counterproductive measures.
Buttler’s Take on the Situation
Speaking ahead of England’s T20I against India, Buttler highlighted that players are staying informed about the political situation but prefer leaving such decisions to experts.
- Buttler said, “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.”
- “I don’t think a boycott is the way to go about it,” he added, drawing parallels to England’s forfeit against Zimbabwe in the 2003 World Cup.
While Buttler admitted that players are consulting with officials like Rob Key, he emphasized that they hope the match proceeds as planned, without political pressures interfering with the sport.
England Squad for Champions Trophy 2025
England Squad:
Jos Buttler (c), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Jamie Smith, Liam Livingstone, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Saqib Mahmood, Phil Salt, Mark Wood.
England’s Champions Trophy Schedule
- 22 February: Australia v England, Lahore
- 26 February: Afghanistan v England, Lahore
- 1 March: South Africa v England, Karachi
England will look to focus on their preparations for the tournament while navigating the political discussions surrounding their fixture against Afghanistan.
