Sports · Cricket · 1 hr ago
Ollie Pope withdraws from Afghanistan Premier League draft
England batter Ollie Pope has withdrawn from the draft for the inaugural Afghanistan Premier League, a T20 competition planned for the United Arab Emirates later this year.
David Willey and Will Smeed have also withdrawn, according to reports.
Their decisions come amid criticism of the Taliban’s treatment of women and girls in Afghanistan since it returned to power in 2021.
The England and Wales Cricket Board has not arranged bilateral matches with Afghanistan since then, but England still plays the team at major international tournaments.
English players need the board’s approval to join overseas leagues, though England director of cricket Rob Key says it is legally difficult to prevent them from taking part.
Key says the choice is a moral judgement for each player, while former England batter Dawid Malan remains in the draft.
The debate continues as the inaugural league approaches, with other English players still listed as participants.
Ollie Pope has withdrawn from the draft for the inaugural Afghanistan Premier League.
His decision comes amid debate over whether English cricketers should take part because of the Taliban’s treatment of women and girls.
Pope’s withdrawal was understood to be his own decision, although English players need an ECB No Objection Certificate to play in overseas leagues.
England director of cricket Rob Key said it was legally difficult to stop players from joining the competition and described participation as a moral decision.
News18 reports that David Willey and Will Smeed have also withdrawn, while Dawid Malan, Moeen Ali, James Vince and James Rew remain entered in the draft.
- Who
- England batter Ollie Pope.
- What
- He withdrew from the Afghanistan Premier League draft.
- When
- The withdrawal was reported on October 12 and 13, 2026. The draft was due to take place later that month.
- Where
- The league is scheduled to take place in the United Arab Emirates.
- Why
- The decision came amid debate over the Taliban’s treatment of women and girls in Afghanistan.
Rob Key
Dawid Malan
Participation
Rob Key
Key said he would not play in the league and called participation a moral judgement for players.
Dawid Malan
Malan said he was willing to play if the boards approved it, citing the need to earn a living.
Responsibility
Rob Key
Key said players had to be prepared to take the right moral stance.
Dawid Malan
Malan said players take guidance from the ICC and cricket boards, and questioned why individuals faced the choice when England still plays Afghanistan in global tournaments.
The ECB stopped arranging bilateral cricket with Afghanistan after the Taliban returned to power.
BBC Sport reported that Pope had withdrawn from the APL draft independently of Rob Key’s view.
The APL draft was scheduled to take place.
The inaugural Afghanistan Premier League was scheduled to take place in the United Arab Emirates.
- Player
- Ollie Pope
- Competition
- Afghanistan Premier League draft
- League location
- United Arab Emirates
- Other withdrawals
- David Willey and Will Smeed, according to News18
- Other players entered
- Dawid Malan, Moeen Ali, James Vince and James Rew
What people are saying
Legally it is hard to stop players going over and playing in these competitions
It becomes a moral judgement and players have to be prepared to take the right moral stance.
I don’t agree with the way that women have been treated out in Afghanistan, and the way that things happen in that country is not something that I agree with, so it’s not something that I would go and do
I need to be able to pay my rent and I need to be able to earn a living while I can, so as long as it’s been approved by the boards, I am happy to go.
Sources
England Batter Ollie Pope Pulls Out Of Afghanistan Premier League Draft After Backlash
Ollie Pope withdraws from Afghanistan Premier League draft as ECB raises moral concerns, Dawid Malan remains available
England Cricketer Ollie Pope Withdraws From Afghanistan Premier League Draft Amid Criticism Over Taliban's Treatment of Women
Pope withdraws from Afghan league draft amid concerns over treatment of women
Ollie Pope withdraws from Afghanistan Premier League T20 draft
Pope pulls out of controversial Afghanistan T20 league
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