ECB urged to boycott Afghanistan game in Champions Trophy by UK politicians

  • More than 160 sign letter condemning ‘sex apartheid’
  • Women’s cricket team disbanded under Taliban rule

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has been urged to boycott next month’s Champions Trophy match against Afghanistan by a group of more than 160 politicians, including Nigel Farage, Jeremy Corbyn and Lord Kinnock.

The England men’s ODI side are due to face Afghanistan in Lahore on 26 February but there are calls from Westminster for the ECB to refuse the fixture, taking a stand against the Taliban regime’s ongoing assault on women’s rights.

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Radical plan may result in two England-Australia Ashes series every three years

  • ICC to discuss splitting 12 Test nations into two tiers
  • India’s support or otherwise for the initiative is key

England and Australia could play two Ashes series every three years from 2027 onwards under a radical two division plan being considered for Test cricket.

According to a report in the Melbourne Age, Australia, England and India, plus Jay Shah, the new chair of the International Cricket Council, are due to meet later this month to discuss splitting the 12 Test nations into two tiers. It would also allow the so-called “Big Three” countries to play their hugely lucrative series more often.

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