“Don’t think a boycott is the way to go about it” - Jos Buttler on facing Afghanistan in the Champions Trophy

England captain Jos Buttler claimed that not playing Afghanistan in the Champions Trophy isn't the right way to go about it given the talks happening back in the UK about the game. The two teams are set to lock horns with each other on February 26 in Lahore. In Taliban rule, women have been banned from representing Afghanistan in any sport since 2021 and that has led to political talks in the United Kingdom. 

Labour MP Ronia Antoniazzi wrote a letter to the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chief Richard Gould and shed light on the discrimination against women by the Taliban rule. According to Antoniazzi, a boycott of the match would send a strong message against the injustice to women. However, Buttler felt that while he had been educated on the matter, not playing a match was not the right way to go about it.

“Political situations like this, as a player you’re trying to be as informed as you can be," Buttler said. “The experts know a lot more about it, so I’ve been trying to stay in dialogue with Rob Key [ECB men’s managing director] and the guys above to see how they see it. I don’t think a boycott is the way to go about it."

We want to play that game: Jos Buttler

Buttler stressed how crucial the match is for England and how they want to do well by playing the game. He also clarified that he is in touch with the Director of Cricket at ECB Robert Key about the same. 

“I’m led by those experts on situations like this, but as a player, you don’t want political situations to affect sport. We hope to go to the Champions Trophy and play that game and have a really good tournament," Buttler said.

England is set to play a five-match T20I series against India with the first game to be played in Kolkata on January 22.

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