Champions Trophy: Afghanistan will ignore cricket boycott calls, says skipper Shahidi

Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi stated on Thursday that his team remains unaffected by international calls to boycott their Champions Trophy fixtures due to the Taliban government's policies towards women.

"We only control things inside the ground, that's our job," Shahidi said at the pre-match press conference in Karachi on Thursday. "The other things cannot put us under pressure."

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The team begins their Champions Trophy campaign in Group B with the match against South Africa in Karachi on Friday.

Since the Taliban seized control in 2021, women have been barred from participating in sports, creating a conflict with ICC regulations while the men's side continues to compete internationally.

South African Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie endorsed British politicians' appeals for a playing boycott of Afghanistan in the previous month.

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While the England and Wales Cricket Board declined to boycott their Champions Trophy group fixture, they confirmed avoiding any bilateral series with Afghanistan.

Despite cancelling a Twenty20 international series and a Test against Afghanistan in the past two years, Australia, another Group B team, intends to play the Afghans in their Champions Trophy encounter.

Afghanistan will have their last two matches in Group B at Lahore, facing England on February 26 and Australia two days later.

"The whole world knows that we are playing well, especially in the last three years, so we are focused on our play," Shahidi said.

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