England batter Ollie Pope withdraws from Afghanistan T20 league draft amid concerns over Taliban’s treatment of women

England cricket player Ollie Pope has withdrawn from the draft of the first Afghanistan Premier League (APL) due to concerns over the Taliban's treatment of women and girls in the country. The APL is set to commence in the United Arab Emirates later this year. Initially, Pope was expected to be the sole centrally contracted English player in the draft.

However, his withdrawal is believed to be his own decision, not influenced by discussions with England's director of cricket, Rob Key. England's players require a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to take part in foreign leagues. Key, speaking on the Test Match Special podcast, acknowledged that legally stopping players from participating in such competitions is challenging.

He emphasized that it is ultimately a moral decision for the players to make. Key personally would not participate in the APL but emphasized that the decision rests with the player. The ECB has not arranged any bilateral series against Afghanistan since the Taliban retook control in 2021. Despite this, England still competes against Afghanistan in major international tournaments like the World Cup and Champions Trophy.

Key also expressed his disapproval of the way women are treated in Afghanistan. In contrast, former England cricketer Dawid Malan is among those who have entered the APL draft along with Moeen Ali, James Vince, and James Rew. Malan highlighted the dilemma players face between their moral convictions and earning a living. He questioned why players are expected to make individual decisions when England continues to play Afghanistan in international events.