England to Play Afghanistan at Champions Trophy Despite Boycott Calls

England will play Afghanistan at the Champions Trophy, with captain Jos Buttler and the ECB resisting calls for a boycott over the Taliban's treatment of women.

The atmosphere at De Kuip, Feyenoord's home stadium, has undergone a significant transformation. During Arne Slot's three-year tenure, he built a virtual football empire in Rotterdam, leading Feyenoord to their first Eredivisie title since 2017 and only their second since 1999. Slot's Feyenoord was renowned for its incredible intensity, both with and without possession of the ball.

Under Slot's guidance, Feyenoord's pressing efficiency led to numerous turnovers in advantageous positions, allowing them to consistently destabilize their opponents. The team's strategy involved outnumbering their opponents in various areas of the pitch and recruiting speedy wingers who fearlessly took on their direct opponents. This approach yielded impressive results, earning Feyenoord a reputation as a formidable force in Dutch football.

After Slot's departure, Feyenoord's General Manager, Dennis te Kloese, took approximately a year to find a suitable replacement. Ultimately, he chose Brian Priske, who had previously restored football pride in Prague by securing two consecutive championships with Sparta. Although Priske had a successful stint with Royal Antwerp in Belgium, his appointment at Feyenoord was met with skepticism by fans and journalists alike. Unfortunately, their doubts have been justified so far, as Priske has struggled to replicate Slot's success.

England captain Jos Buttler has expressed his opposition to boycotting the upcoming match against Afghanistan at the Champions Trophy. Despite calls from over 160 British politicians to cancel the match due to the Taliban regime's assault on women's rights, Buttler believes that sports and politics should be kept separate. “Political situations like this, as a player you're trying to be as informed as you can be,” Buttler told reporters ahead of the first T20 against India in Kolkata on Wednesday.

Buttler acknowledged that he has been staying informed about the situation through dialogue with Rob Key, the managing director of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), and other experts. However, he emphasized that a boycott is not the solution. “I don't think a boycott is the way to go about it,” he said. “Certainly as a player, you don't want political situations to affect sport. We hope to go to the Champions Trophy and play that game and have a really good tournament.”

The ECB has also resisted calls for a boycott, with chief executive Richard Gould stating that he would “actively advocate” for collective action by the International Cricket Council (ICC) instead. The ICC has allowed the Afghanistan men's team to continue competing in global competitions, despite the Taliban regime's restrictions on women's participation in sports. England is set to face Afghanistan, Australia, and South Africa in the group phase of the Champions Trophy, which begins on February 19th.