England men's cricket team captain, Jos Buttler, has rejected the idea of boycotting their scheduled Champions Trophy match against Afghanistan.

Buttler stated that boycotting the Afghan team would not resolve any issues and insisted that the political situation should be addressed through dialogue, not by excluding teams from competition, Express News reported.

Earlier this month, over 160 British politicians called on the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to boycott the upcoming match against Afghanistan, scheduled for February 26 in Lahore.

The request stems from the political climate in Afghanistan following the Taliban's return to power in 2021, which has resulted in restrictions on women’s participation in sports.

Buttler reflected on a similar situation during the 2003 Cricket World Cup, when England faced criticism for refusing to play Zimbabwe under the leadership of Robert Mugabe. He emphasised that while political figures might view the matter differently, the role of players should remain focused on the sport and not allow politics to disrupt the atmosphere of cricket.

The England team is set to play Afghanistan in the Champions Trophy, but first will face India in a series of five T20 matches and three One Day Internationals.

England's campaign in the 2025 Champions Trophy will begin with a match against Australia.

England and Afghanistan will face off in the Champions Trophy on February 26, in Lahore.