Photo via The Times of India

Pope withdraws from Afghan league draft amid concerns over treatment of women

England batsman Ollie Pope has pulled out of the player draft for the Afghanistan Premier League (APL), set to launch in the United Arab Emirates later this year. His decision follows growing ethical concerns among cricketers about participating in the tournament amid the Taliban’s restrictive policies toward women and girls in Afghanistan.

Pope was poised to become the sole centrally contracted England player in the draft, but his withdrawal appears to be a personal choice rather than a directive from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). The board has previously declined to schedule bilateral series against Afghanistan since the Taliban regained control in 2021, though England continues to face the country in major tournaments like the World Cup and Champions Trophy.

The ECB has emphasized that players must navigate their own moral judgments, as legal restrictions on overseas leagues are minimal. England cricket director Rob Key has publicly opposed the Taliban’s treatment of women, stating he would not participate in the APL himself.

Meanwhile, other high-profile players like Dawid Malan, Moeen Ali, James Vince, and James Rew remain in the draft, highlighting the broader dilemma players face between personal ethics and financial incentives. Malan has noted the tension between individual conscience and the lack of a unified stance from cricket authorities on the issue.

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