ECB confirms Afg VS Eng Champions Trophy contest

KABUL (Pajhwok): The England Cricket Board (ECB) has confirmed that England's men would fulfill their fixture against Afghanistan at the Champions Trophy this month, a media report said on Friday.

Richard Thompson, the ECB's chairman, said in a statement following a board meeting on Thursday that a "coordinated international response" would achieve more than unilateral action.

Earlier, more than 160 British politicians called for England to pull out of the match in Lahore on February 26.

A ESPcricinfo report quoted Thompson as saying: “We remain of the view that a coordinated international response by the cricketing community is the appropriate way forward, and will achieve more than any unilateral action by the ECB in boycotting this match, while we have also heard that for many ordinary Afghans, watching their cricket team is one of the few remaining sources of enjoyment. As such, we can confirm that we will play this fixture."

Thompson said that the ECB will press the ICC for further action, including ring-fencing funding to support female players from Afghanistan, and considering recognising an Afghanistan women's refugee team.

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