Sports · Cricket · 7 hrs ago
Ollie Pope withdraws from Afghanistan Premier League draft
England batter Ollie Pope has withdrawn from the draft for the first Afghanistan Premier League, a T20 competition due to take place in the United Arab Emirates later this year.
He was expected to be the only centrally contracted England player in the draft.
The decision comes amid debate over whether players should take part in a league linked to Afghanistan.
The England and Wales Cricket Board has refused to schedule bilateral matches with Afghanistan since the Taliban returned to power in 2021.
England players need the board's permission to play in the league, but the ECB says it is legally difficult to stop them.
England cricket officials have criticised the treatment of women and girls in Afghanistan, while saying each player must make their own decision.
The draft is due later this month, and the league is planned for later this year.
England batter Ollie Pope has withdrawn from the Afghanistan Premier League draft.
He had been due to be the only centrally contracted England player in the draft for the league’s first edition.
The tournament is set to take place in the United Arab Emirates later this year.
The England and Wales Cricket Board requires players to obtain a No Objection Certificate to take part.
Former England batter Dawid Malan and other players remain listed in the draft, according to BBC Sport.
- Who
- Ollie Pope, an England batter.
- What
- He withdrew from the Afghanistan Premier League draft.
- When
- The withdrawal was reported on 12 October 2026; the draft is due to take place later that month.
- Where
- The league is set to take place in the United Arab Emirates.
- Why
- Not stated. BBC Sport says he made the decision independently of Rob Key’s view on the competition.
Critics of participation
Players entered in the draft
Moral objection
Critics of participation
Rob Key said he would not play and said players should take the right moral stance. Tonia Antoniazzi called for the 2025 Champions Trophy fixture against Afghanistan to be boycotted.
Players entered in the draft
Dawid Malan said players take guidance from the ICC and cricket boards, while noting the tension between what is morally right and what is allowed by law.
Women’s rights
Critics of participation
Key said he disagreed with the treatment of women in Afghanistan. Antoniazzi said women and girls there are denied the same rights as those in the UK.
Players entered in the draft
Malan said he understood the argument but also needed to earn a living as a cricketer.
The ECB stopped scheduling bilateral cricket with Afghanistan after the Taliban returned to power.
Tonia Antoniazzi called for the International Cricket Council to refuse to sanction the event.
England director of cricket Rob Key said he would not play in the league and described preventing players from taking part as legally difficult.
BBC Sport reported that Pope had withdrawn from the draft.
- Player
- Ollie Pope
- League
- Afghanistan Premier League
- Tournament location
- United Arab Emirates
- Draft timing
- Later in October 2026
- ECB requirement
- A No Objection Certificate for English players to take part
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.
As a player it is tough because you have what is morally right and what is by the law.
Women and girls in Afghanistan are denied the same rights as those in our country, and the women's team lives in exile
Sources
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