Harmison warns: Don't leave Jos Buttler alone in the boycott dilemma!

Harmison warns: Don't leave Jos Buttler alone in the boycott dilemma!

The pressure is growing on England cricket captain Jos Buttler! Amid a political storm rocking the sporting world, experts warn that Buttler must not be made a scapegoat. Former England bowler Steve Harmison has made a strong appeal not to “throw Buttler under the bus” as talk of a possible boycott of the Champions Trophy match against Afghanistan gathers pace.

Over 160 British politicians have joined forces to call on the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to cancel the game against Afghanistan. The reason? The misogynistic sports policies of the Taliban, who have banned women from participating in sports since returning to power in 2021. This decision is in direct contradiction to the International Cricket Council (ICC) rules.

A delicate dilemma for the ECB

While the Taliban bans women's participation in sports, the ICC has still ruled that the Afghan men's team can continue to compete in international competitions. So England faces the challenge of playing against Afghanistan in Lahore on February 26th. ECB boss Richard Gould has spoken out against a boycott and is instead calling for collective action by the ICC to avoid a possible points deduction for England.

The situation is further complicated by Prime Minister Keir Starmer's comments calling on the ICC to take the initiative. But Harmison, who was part of a boycott call during the 2003 World Cup, fears Buttler could become the focus of criticism. “Please don’t let Jos Buttler get into this position, he really doesn’t need this,” Harmison said in a podcast.

The shadows of the past

Harmison remembers the difficult times when the England team boycotted a game against Zimbabwe in 2003 due to death threats against the players. “Nasser Hussain wasn’t just thrown under the bus, he was run over backwards,” Harmison explained. “Athletes should not be involved in political conflicts.”

The ECB's concerns about possible security risks in the event of a boycott by Taliban supporters cannot be ignored either. While South Africa, which is also due to face Afghanistan, supports the ECB's position, veteran of the anti-apartheid movement Peter Hain is calling for a boycott. But Cricket South Africa president Rihan Richards insists a unified approach from all ICC members would be more effective.

– Submitted by West-East media