English cricketers considering participation in the inaugural Afghanistan Premier League (APL) have been urged to reflect on the situation of women and girls in Afghanistan. The men's T20 franchise tournament, organised by the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB), is set to be staged in the United Arab Emirates later this year.
Several English players, including Ollie Pope, Luke Wood, Moeen Ali, Reece Topley, James Vince, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, and Laurie Evans, have registered for the tournament draft, scheduled for October. This comes despite the England and Wales Cricket Board's (ECB) policy of not scheduling bilateral men's cricket against Afghanistan due to the Taliban's treatment of women and girls.
The ECB's policy reportedly does not extend to franchise tournaments, meaning players can decide whether to participate. The ECB is likely to grant the necessary No Objection Certificates (NOCs) if the tournament receives sanctioning from the International Cricket Council (ICC). The ACB's application for ICC approval is currently under consideration.
Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi, who previously called for a boycott of England-Afghanistan fixtures, has urged players to think seriously about the consequences of their involvement. Amnesty International's Felix Jakens also advised players to consider the message their participation sends to Afghan girls, who are barred from education beyond the age of 11 and from playing sport.
The five-team APL is scheduled to begin on 27 December. Irish and Scottish players, including Jai Moondra and Brandon McMullen, have also registered for the draft.