Jos Buttler in action. Jos Buttler in action.

Captain Jos Buttler has opposed calls for England to boycott their match against Afghanistan in the Champions Trophy next month. (More Sports News)

A letter signed by about 200 UK politicians asked the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to refuse to play in the game as a response to the Taliban regime's assault on women's rights in Afghanistan. 

England and Afghanistan are scheduled to play each other at Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium in Group B of the Champions Trophy on 26 February. 

"Political situations like this... as a player you're trying to be as informed as you can be," England's white-ball captain Buttler said ahead of the team's tour of India, which starts with the first T20I in Kolkata on Wednesday. 

"The experts know a lot more about it, so I've been trying to stay in dialogue with Rob Key [ECB managing director of men's cricket] and the guys above to see how they see it.

"I don't think a boycott is the way to go about it."

Firepower with bat and ballBrendon McCullum has named the first white-ball team of his reign for tomorrow's opening IT20 v India pic.twitter.com/DSFdaWVPrB

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England have Australia and South Africa for company in their group in the tournament being hosted by Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates.

England previously faced Afghanistan at the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia and the 2023 ODI World Cup in India.

Buttler added: "The players haven't really worried too much about it.

"These things, you're trying to educate yourself and read up on these things. There's been some good stuff written about it that I've tapped into and I've spoken to quite a few people to try to gather expert opinions. I'm led by those experts on situations like this.

"But certainly, as a player, you don't want political situations to affect sport.

India, the most successful team in the competition, now have five titles, including back-to-back triumphs in 2023 and 2024. The victory adds to their bronze medal secured at the Paris Olympic Games last month.

"We hope to go to the Champions Trophy and play that game and have a really good tournament."

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England will play five T20Is and three ODIs in India during the tourgvg777, before facing Australia in their Champions Trophy opener on 22 February.