New Delhi, October 13 (Daily Kiran) : England cricketer Ollie Pope has officially withdrawn his name from the upcoming draft for the Afghanistan Premier League T20 (APL). This decision comes amidst ongoing concerns regarding the Taliban government’s treatment of women, which has led the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to refuse bilateral series with Afghanistan.
ECB Chairman Richard Thompson stated last week that careful consideration would be necessary before granting no-objection certificates (NOCs) to English players wishing to participate in the APL.
Rob Key, the Managing Director of Men’s Cricket, encouraged English players to take a principled stance regarding their participation in the league. He mentioned that he would discuss Pope’s decision to register for the draft with him.
According to reports from Cricinfo, Pope has officially stepped back from the draft scheduled for October 24. Other players, including Will Smeed and David Willey, have also chosen to withdraw.
Key remarked, “Legally, it is challenging to prevent players from participating in the league. However, players must be prepared to take a moral stand. It is easy for me to say I won’t play, but ultimately, the decision lies with the players.”
He added, “I do not agree with how women are treated in Afghanistan, and the way things are in that country is something I cannot support.”
As of now, David Malan remains registered for the draft, defending his potential participation by citing guidance from the ECB and ICC. He stated that as players, they rely on the direction from these governing bodies.
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