Afghan cricketers in 'tricky situation', says Jonathan Trott

Afghanistan's cricketers find themselves in a "tricky situation", aware of the challenges within their country, according to head coach Jonathan Trott.

Afghanistan is set to face England in Lahore on 28 february in their second group-stage match of the Champions Trophy, marking their debut in the tournament. However, the match has been overshadowed by political tensions, with over 160 British politicians urging England to boycott the game in protest against the Taliban's restrictions on women's rights in Afghanistan.

Trott, the former England batsman, acknowledged the difficult position his players face. "They know the difference between right and wrong. It is a real tricky situation for them," Trott told the BBC from Lahore. "They know who they are playing for and representing. We work hard to bring joy to the country, and the guys are passionate, brave, and proud of being able to do that, but knowing full well that there are things that are not correct."

Since the Taliban regained power in 2021, female participation in sports has effectively been outlawed, placing the Afghanistan Cricket Board at odds with International Cricket Council (ICC) regulations. Despite this, Afghanistan's men's team continues to compete in international tournaments.

While the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) rejected calls to boycott the fixture, they confirmed they would not schedule any bilateral series against Afghanistan.

Both Afghanistan and England head into the Lahore clash needing a win to keep their semi-final hopes alive after losing their opening matches. Afghan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi avoided direct comments regarding the boycott calls.

"We are cricket players, we are sportsmen," Shahidi said. "What we control is what we do on the ground. We don't worry about what happens off the ground, so our confidence is good."

Last month, South Africa's sports minister Gayton McKenzie supported the British politicians' calls for a boycott. Australia, who will face Afghanistan on 1 march, previously cancelled a T20 series and a Test against them but still plans to play their Champions Trophy fixture.

"Everyone likes to see everyone play," Shahidi added. "We are only cricket players. We can control things on the ground, and we are always trying to give our best when we play."