Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have had discussions with the England and Wales Cricket Board on whether the Afghanistan team should participate in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy.

The UK Government condemns the appalling erosion of women and girls’ rights in Afghanistan. Sport operates independently of government, and Afghanistan’s participation in the ICC Champion’s Trophy is a matter for the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and International Cricket Council (ICC).

My officials are in ongoing contact with the ECB on the wider issue of support for the Afghanistan women’s cricket team. We welcome the recent announcement of the Global Refugee Cricket Fund to help support Afghanistan women’s cricket. We strongly urge the ICC to ensure a safe return to competition for the Afghanistan women’s team in some capacity as soon as possible.