With England scheduled to play Afghanistan in the Champions Trophy on 26 February, BBC Sport looks at the background of the debate over whether the match should go ahead.

England have decided to play against Afghanistan in the Champions Trophy match in Lahore on February 26, despite calls for a boycott from over 160 British politicians. The ECB believes that a coordinated international approach will be more effective and wants to support ordinary Afghans who gain enjoyment from watching their national team.

The call for a boycott was started by a group of British lawmakers last month, who called on England to skip the Champions Trophy group stage match against Afghanistan. The appeal has been backed by over 160 British politicians and South Africa's Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie.

England's Champions Trophy match against Afghanistan will go ahead, despite calls for a boycott. A cross-party letter, signed by nearly 200 UK politicians, was sent to the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) asking for England to refuse to play in response to the Taliban's human rights record.

England will play Afghanistan in the Champions Trophy later this month despite calls from British politicians to boycott the match over the Taliban regime's curtailment of women's rights.

England Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed that they will not withdraw from the Champions Trophy 2025 clash against Afghanistan.