Anna Dixon calls for England cricket team to boycott Afghanistan match

Anna Dixon MP for Shipley constituency, has this week called for the England national cricket team to boycott its upcoming Champions Trophy match against Afghanistan over serious concerns of the country’s oppression of women and girls.   

Ms Dixon has put her name to a joint letter headed by Tonia Antoniazzi, the Labour MP for Gower, sent to Richard Gould, the Chief Executive of England and Wales Cricket Board, requesting that the national team not take part in their match against the central Asian nation on 26th of February.  

In August 2021, the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan, and one of their first acts was to ban women from playing cricket. They went on to carry out actions, including raiding the homes of female athletes and disbanding the Afghan women's cricket team, which is now forced to play in exile.  

In the letter signed by Anna Dixon, it states: “As the world watches this insidious dystopia unfold, women in Afghanistan find themselves erased from the most innocent of daily activities, imprisoned at home, risking torture and public execution if they protest or do not comply. 

“We must stand against sex apartheid, and we implore the ECB to deliver a firm message of  

solidarity and hope to Afghan women and girls that their suffering has not been overlooked.” 

After signing the letter, Anna Dixon stated, “It is crucial for the UK to stand up for the rights of women and girls in every part of the world. 

“By not participating in this match, the England team has the opportunity to send a strong message against the Taliban regime. Competing in sporting events against countries whose governments enforce policies that strip away the most basic human rights and freedoms of women only serves to legitimize those regimes. 

“I urge the England team to boycott the game on February 26th and to speak out against the horrific treatment of women and girls in Afghanistan under the Taliban.”