England captain Jos Buttler has condemned the UK politicians’ call to boycott the upcoming Champions Trophy match against Afghanistan, which is set to take place primarily in Pakistan, starting February 19.
Ahead of the first T20I against India in Kolkata, Buttler stated, “In political situations like these, as a player, you’re trying to stay as informed as possible.”
He expressed hope that the tournament would proceed smoothly and reaffirmed his commitment to participating in the mega-event with enthusiasm.
The English captain emphasized that boycotting the match against Afghanistan would not resolve any issues.
Afghanistan and England are scheduled to face each other in the Champions Trophy on February 26 in Lahore.
It is worth noting that the British Parliament had called for a boycott of the match against Afghanistan.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) had already rejected the Parliament’s request to boycott the match against Afghanistan, a rising cricketing nation from South Asia.
Afghanistan has proven its prowess in white-ball cricket with exceptional performances, including defeating major teams like England and Pakistan in the 2023 World Cup.
They have also made a significant impact in the T20I format, reaching the semi-finals of the ICC T20 World Cup 2024.
