Why Ollie Pope Walked Away From the Afghanistan Premier League

Dr. Annelies De Vos · 2026-10-13

Ollie Pope pulled his name out of the inaugural Afghanistan Premier League draft on October 12, 2026. The reason? Public backlash over human rights concerns in Afghanistan. It's a decision that's sparked a bigger conversation about where the line sits between sports and politics. ### What Happened, Exactly? The Surrey batter had entered the draft as the only centrally contracted England player involved. But he wasn't alone in stepping back. Will Smeed and David Willey also withdrew. Reports suggest sports agents sometimes register players for overseas leagues without direct instruction, so it's possible Pope didn't even know he was in the mix. Either way, he made the call before the ECB released its latest central contract list. The tournament itself is a five-team franchise event, set to run in the United Arab Emirates starting December 27, 2026. Organizers are pushing ahead, but the player pool just got a lot thinner. ### Pope's Record Speaks for Itself Pope has played 64 Test matches for England. He's captained the side six times, including against India at The Oval in 2025. The ECB picked him for the summer Test series against Pakistan after his last international outing in the third Ashes Test in Australia last December. So this isn't a fringe player making a quiet exit. This is a core member of England's Test setup. ### The ECB's Hands Are Tied (Sort Of) Rob Key, the ECB's managing director of men's cricket, spoke about the situation on the BBC's Test Match Special podcast. His message was clear: UK restraint of trade legislation prevents the board from legally blocking players from competing in overseas leagues. "English players must make their own moral judgements," Key said. He also confirmed he wouldn't play in the tournament himself, citing the treatment of women in Afghanistan. Any English cricketer needs a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the ECB to play overseas. ECB chairman Richard Thompson said last week that board members need to think "very carefully" before issuing NOCs for the APL. He's previously called the Taliban's treatment of female citizens "gender apartheid." - The ECB hasn't scheduled bilateral series against Afghanistan since 2021. - But England still faces Afghanistan in ICC global events like the World Cup and Champions Trophy. - That inconsistency is exactly what some players are pointing to. ### Not Everyone Is Walking Away Dawid Malan, a former England top-order batter, remains in the draft. On the same podcast, he explained his reasoning: players follow official guidance from the ICC and national boards. He also mentioned his young daughter and his hope that she'll play sports one day. But he's a professional athlete. He needs to earn a living. Malan pointed out the double standard: boards allow national teams to face Afghanistan in World Cups, yet question franchise cricket. Other English players still listed include Moeen Ali, James Vince, and Somerset's James Rew. Dean Ahmad, an agent representing Moeen Ali, defended participating players on X: > "Morality in sport matters, but so does consistency. The Taliban's treatment of women is indefensible. Yet why are cricketers singled out while governments and corporations maintain ties with states accused of serious human rights abuses? Selective outrage isn't morality." ### The Bigger Picture This isn't just about one draft or one player. It's about how sports navigate politics, morality, and money. Pope made his choice. Others are making theirs. And the debate? It's far from over.