English cricketers urged to reconsider taking part in inaugural Afghanistan Premier League in UAE
On 30 September 2026, English cricketers were urged to rethink plans to play in the inaugural Afghanistan Premier League, a five-team T20 franchise tournament scheduled to be staged in the United Arab Emirates later this year ahead of a player draft in October.
Afghanistan have been a full member of the International Cricket Council since June 2017, and several England players — Ollie Pope, Luke Wood, Moeen Ali, Reece Topley, James Vince, Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Laurie Evans — have registered for the APL draft. The England and Wales Cricket Board has refused to schedule bilateral men's cricket against Afghanistan because of the Taliban's treatment of women and girls, but BBC Sport understands that the ECB's policy does not extend to franchise tournaments and that players can decide for themselves. The ECB is likely to grant players the No Objection Certificates required to play provided the tournament is sanctioned by the ICC; the Afghanistan Cricket Board has applied to the ICC for approval and that application is currently being considered. Last year, ECB chair Richard Thompson used the term "gender apartheid" to describe the Taliban's systematic oppression and restriction of women's and girls' rights in Afghanistan.
When England and Afghanistan last met, at the 2025 Champions Trophy, there were calls for the fixture to be boycotted and a cross-party letter signed by 200 MPs was sent to the ECB. Tonia Antoniazzi, the Labour MP who led those calls, told BBC Sport: "Why are we here again? Women and girls in Afghanistan are denied the same rights as those in our country, and the women's team lives in exile. Does that not concern the players, especially those with daughters, sisters or mothers?" She added: "I hope the ICC refuses to sanction this event. Continuing to allow Afghanistan full-member status makes a mockery of its own membership criteria."
Amnesty International's Felix Jakens addressed players directly, saying: "Since 2021, Afghan women have been banned from playing sport, and girls remain barred from education beyond the age of 11." He went on to state: "Any English player considering the APL, and the ECB weighing their NOCs, should ask what message that sends to those girls. And they should use their platform and influence to demand the Taliban reverse its assault on women's rights, not stay silent while it continues."
A number of Irish and Scottish players, including Jai Moondra and Brandon McMullen, have also registered for the APL draft. Afghanistan's women cricketers have been playing as a refugee team since the Taliban took power, funded by the ICC along with the boards of England, India and Australia; in July the ICC extended its funding for the Afghan women until 2032 and made a stronger commitment to allowing the team to participate in qualification events in the future. Afghan women tell the BBC their lives are unrecognisable after five years of Taliban rule.
The five-team Afghanistan Premier League is due to start on 27 December.
