Fri Jan 10 12:15:38 UTC 2025: ## England Captain Shouldn’t Bear Brunt of Afghanistan Boycott Debate, Says Harmison
**London** – Former England cricketer Steve Harmison has warned against placing the burden of a potential boycott of the upcoming Afghanistan cricket match on England captain Jos Buttler. Pressure is mounting on the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to boycott the February 26th Champions Trophy match in Lahore, following the Taliban’s ban on women’s sports.
Over 160 British politicians have called for a boycott, echoing concerns raised by veteran anti-apartheid campaigner Peter Hain. However, the ECB, supported by Cricket South Africa, prefers a unified ICC response rather than unilateral action, citing potential security risks and the possibility of points deductions.
Harmison, drawing parallels to the controversial 2003 Zimbabwe boycott, where captain Nasser Hussain faced immense pressure, stressed that Buttler should not be made a scapegoat. He emphasized that the political complexities should be addressed by the ICC, not individual players. While UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s office has urged the ICC to take the lead, Harmison fears the captain will bear the brunt of any fallout. The ECB chief executive, Richard Gould, has also voiced support for collective action through the ICC. The situation remains tense as the match draws closer.
First Piper 