There have been calls for England to boycott their ICC Champions Trophy match against Afghanistan, set to take place on February 26 in Lahore. The demand stems from the Taliban’s suppression of women's rights, including the ban on women participating in sports since their return to power in 2021.
“[Key, the ECB and Buttler] all spoke with experts on the ground and don’t see that boycotting this game is going to make any sort of positive impact," Joe Root said.
“From our point of view, we’re playing and we’ve got to make sure that we put our best foot forward, play our best cricket and find ourselves on the right side of the result.”
— Test Match Special (@bbctms) February 24, 2025
We Can't Look Ahead of That - Joe Root
Joe Root emphasized that England's focus is on their next match rather than looking too far ahead. He said that the team wants to stay present, prepare well for the upcoming game, and carry forward the confidence gained from strong batting performances.
England Must Win Their Remaining Two Matches to Secure Semi-Finals Berth
England must win their remaining two matches to secure a spot in the semi-finals. They are expected to bring in Jamie Overton as a replacement for the injured Brydon Carse in their clash against Afghanistan.
England and Afghanistan have faced each other three times in ODIs, with Afghanistan securing a stunning 69-run victory in their most recent encounter at the 2023 World Cup.
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