England's men's cricket team should play against Afghanistan, despite calls for a boycott in response to the Taliban regime's assault on women's rights, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy says.

England's upcoming Champions Trophy cricket match against Afghanistan should go ahead despite calls for a boycott over the Taliban's treatment of women, according to a senior British government minister.

A group of British lawmakers urged England to boycott their Champions Trophy match against Afghanistan next month, saying the country's cricket board (ECB) needed to take a stand against the Taliban's crackdown on women.

England's men's players have the "power" to make their own stand and refuse to play Afghanistan in the Champions Trophy, says Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi.

MPs and peers have called for the ECB to boycott the fixture in objection to the Taliban’s ongoing assault on women’s rights in the country.