Ollie Pope has decided to withdraw from the upcoming Afghanistan Premier League (APL) T20 draft, following criticism over the involvement of English cricketers. This comes after the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) initially planned to issue No-Objection Certificates (NOCs) to players for participating in the APL, despite the absence of bilateral fixtures against Afghanistan due to concerns about women’s rights under the Taliban regime.
Richard Thompson, the ECB Chair, highlighted last week that issuing NOCs would require careful consideration but noted that UK restraint-of-trade laws could present a challenge. Meanwhile, Rob Key, managing director of men’s cricket at the ECB, urged English players to adopt a “moral stance” when deciding about the APL.
“I wouldn’t go and play in it, but the decision really is up to the players,” Key mentioned on the BBC’s Test Match Special podcast. He also expressed his disapproval of the treatment of women in Afghanistan, stating, “It’s not something that I would go and do.”
It’s understood that Pope, who captained England recently and has just renewed his central contract, had already decided to withdraw from the draft before Key’s remarks. English players Will Smeed and David Willey have followed suit.
Typically, player registrations for franchise leagues are managed by agents, which means the players might not have been aware of their involvement until the criticism surfaced, including comments from Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi.
Dawid Malan, another England player still registered, defended his stance by referring to the guidance provided by the ECB and ICC. On the same podcast, he explained, “I want my daughter to enjoy sports, so I understand the argument. But as a cricketer, I need to earn a living. As long as the boards approve, I’m content to play.”
Meanwhile, doubts about the APL’s viability continue, with only three of the five franchises sold. Sources describe the situation as “touch and go.” The league is scheduled to start in the UAE on 27 December.
