England Batter Ollie Pope Withdraws From Afghanistan Premier League Draft
· Sports · BBC Sport, ESPNCricinfo
England batter Ollie Pope has withdrawn his name from the draft for the inaugural Afghanistan Premier League, which is scheduled to take place in the United Arab Emirates. While England director of cricket Rob Key stated it is legally difficult to prevent players from participating in such leagues, he emphasized that the decision remains a personal moral choice. The England and Wales Cricket Board has not scheduled bilateral cricket with Afghanistan since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, citing concerns over the treatment of women and girls. Pope, who holds a central contract, made his decision independently of the board's stance on the competition. England continues to face the Afghanistan team only during major global tournaments.
Why it matters
The withdrawal underscores the ongoing tension between professional cricketers' career opportunities and the moral stance taken by sporting bodies regarding the Taliban's governance in Afghanistan.
Read the original report — BBC Sport
Join us on Telegram
Breaking news the moment it lands. At 10,000 members we ship the Android app.