THIS IS A DEVELOPMENT THAT DOES NOT SURPRISE. Three days after New Zealand Cricket abandoned its men’s teams limited-overs tour of Pakistan following a government alert that warned of a possible attack outside Rawalpindi Stadium, the England and Wales Cricket Board followed suit.
The ECB came to a decision after a board meeting over the weekend. Its statement didn’t directly detail any specific security issues.
Expectedly, freshly inducted Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ramiz Raja hit out at cricket’s “western bloc”, as the PCB coped with the second cancellation of a home series in a matter of days.
It bears noting that it was only in 2019 that international teams resumed touring Pakistan. Then came the COVID pandemic which wiped two years off the calendar. And with the ultra-fanatic Taliban having just taken the reins across the border in Afghanistan, it was just never going to be worth the risk.
From what was to be Pakistan’s busiest home season since the return of international, it is back to square 1 for the PCB, which had scheduled 12 T20Is in the run-up to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. As ESPNcricinfo noted, a rain-hit series in the Caribbean and these cancellations now means the Pakistan team go into the tournament having completed a solitary T20I of that schedule. The only cricket their players will have now is the National T20 Cup, which starts from September 23.
In a video message released by the PCB, Raja’s message was that “self-reliance and regeneration” was the way to go for international cricket’s pariah country.
“We have to improve and expand our cricket economy so that these countries remain interested in playing us,” Raja said. “That is in our interests as well so that our players are paid better and we are respected more. They come to the PSL where they don’t get spooked or fatigued but collectively they have a different mindset together toward Pakistan.”
Brave words, aside, Raja’s comments are little more than a forward looking statement. In the immediate term the PCB is looking at losses ranging from between $15-$25 million, ESPNcricinfo, quoting sources from the Pakistan board, reports.
Official Statement from the ECB Board
“The ECB has a longstanding commitment to tour Pakistan as part of the Men’s Future Tours Programme in 2022.
“Earlier this year, we agreed to play two additional T20 World Cup warm-up games in Pakistan in October, adding a short women’s tour with double headers alongside the men’s games.
“The ECB Board convened this weekend to discuss these extra England Women’s and Men’s games in Pakistan and we can confirm that the Board has reluctantly decided to withdraw both teams from the October trip.
“The mental and physical well-being of our players and support staff remains our highest priority and this is even more critical given the times we are currently living in. 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.
“There is the added complexity for our Men’s T20 squad. We believe that touring under these conditions will not be ideal preparation for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, where performing well remains a top priority for 2021.
“We understand that this decision will be a significant disappointment to the PCB, who have worked tirelessly to host the return of international cricket in their country. Their support of English and Welsh cricket over the last two summers has been a huge demonstration of friendship. We are sincerely sorry for the impact this will have on cricket in Pakistan and emphasise an ongoing commitment to our main touring plans there for 2022.”
