Ireland risk ECB ire by agreeing to play five matches against Afghanistan Ireland’s cricket board has faced potential repercussions from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) after agreeing to host a five-match one-day international series against Afghanistan this summer. The decision has sparked controversy, as the ECB has consistently refused to schedule bilateral fixtures against Afghanistan due to concerns over the Taliban regime’s policies in the country. The ECB’s stance, which aligns with the UK government’s position, has been criticized by Cricket Ireland, which has opted to develop closer ties with the Afghanistan Cricket Board. The series, which begins on Wednesday in Bready, Northern Ireland, includes five one-day internationals and is part of a reciprocal agreement that also involves a Test and three ODIs in the United Arab Emirates next March. This arrangement has drawn the ECB’s ire, as it undermines their policy of avoiding fixtures against Afghanistan outside ICC-sanctioned events. The ECB’s chair, Richard Thompson, has labeled the Taliban’s restrictions on women’s participation in sports as “gender apartheid,” a term that has been central to the organization’s refusal to engage with Afghanistan in bilateral matches. England’s reluctance to face Afghanistan has been evident in past decisions. While the ECB previously allowed a one-off Test against Ireland at Lord’s as preparation for home series in 2019 and 2023, they have since opted for a warm-up Test against Bangladesh instead. This shift highlights the ECB’s ongoing hesitancy to engage with Afghanistan, despite the country’s status as an ICC full member.#ecb #cricket_ireland #afghanistan_cricket_board #talon #bready_northern_ireland
