England will play Afghanistan in the Champions Trophy on Wednesday, 26 February in Pakistan.It is a fixture that has caused plenty of controversy in the build-up, with some saying Jos Buttler's side should boycott the match in response to the Taliban's actions in Afghanistan.

The ECB have confirmed that the tournament fixture will go ahead despite calls for England to boycott over the Taliban’s treatment of women

England will play their Champions Trophy match against Afghanistan later this month, England's cricket board (ECB) said on Thursday, despite calls to boycott the game in response to the Taliban government's crackdown on women's rights.

England's Champions Trophy match against Afghanistan will go ahead, despite calls for a boycott. A cross-party letter, signed by nearly 200 UK politicians, was sent to the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) asking for England to refuse to play in response to the Taliban's human rights record.

The call for a boycott was started by a group of British lawmakers last month, who called on England to skip the Champions Trophy group stage match against Afghanistan. The appeal has been backed by over 160 British politicians and South Africa's Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie.

In response to Afghanistan's treatment of women, which includes severe restrictions on women's rights, a group of British lawmakers had previously urged England to boycott the group-stage encounter.

The England and Wales Cricket Board faced calls to boycott the fixture in a show of solidarity with Afghanistans women, who are in exile due to a clampdown on female rights under the Taliban regime; w

England Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed that they will not withdraw from the Champions Trophy 2025 clash against Afghanistan.