English team roll back Pakistan tour after New Zealand pulls out
ISLAMABAD, September,20 (Asia Free Press): After New Zealand, England Cricket Board on Monday has announced that it is withdrawing both its men’s and women’s teams from their tour of Pakistan scheduled for next month.
In a statement, the England Cricket Board (ECB) said its pulled out its team from Pakistan’s series due to “security” concerns.
Expressing regret, ECB said, “we understand that this decision will be a significant disappointment to the PCB”, who have worked hard to pulls back the international cricket in their country.
The ECB, however, said the “mental and physical well-being” of its players and support staff remains their top priority, and this was even more critical given the times
“we are currently living in”.
England’s men and women teams were due to play two T20s in Rawalpindi on October 13 and 14 and the women players will have to stay in hosting country for three ODIs a head on October 17, 19, and 21.
The ECB said it had a “longstanding commitment” to tour Pakistan as part of the Men’s Future Tours Programme in 2022, as it had agreed to play two additional T20 World Cup warm-up games in October, adding a short women’s tour with double headers alongside the men’s games.
“We know there are increasing concerns about travelling to the region and believe that going ahead will add further pressure to a playing group who have already coped with a long period of operating in restricted COVID environments,” the statement added.
Reacting to English cricket board decision, Pakistan cricket board Chairman Ramiz Raja termed it “disappointing”.
“Disappointed with England, pulling out of their commitment & failing a member of their Cricket fraternity when it needed it most. Survive we will inshallah,” he tweeted
“A wake up call for Pak team to become the best team in the world for teams to line up to play them without making excuses,” Raja added
