Ireland risk ECB ire by agreeing to play five matches against Afghanistan

From the publisher

Ireland’s decision to stage a full one‑day international series for their men’s team against Afghanistan this summer could cost them lucrative future fixtures against England. The England and Wales Cricket Board is understood to be unhappy about the series, which starts on Wednesday, taking place as England refuse to play Afghanistan outside International Cricket Council global events because of what the ECB chair, Richard Thompson, has described as the “gender apartheid” of the Taliban regime. The ECB’s policy is backed by the UK government, but Cricket Ireland has taken a different view and has developed close relations with the Afghanistan Cricket Board, offering it five ODIs this month, all of…

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