England Cancels Pakistan Tour – PCB Feels Cheated: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ramiz Raja has expressed huge disappointment at England’s decision to withdraw from the tour to Pakistan in October. According to Raja, PCB & Pakistan Cricket feels ‘cheated’ by England & Wales Cricket Board’s decision. Raja also said ECB ‘failed Pakistan Cricket’.
The stinging verbal attack by PCB chairman Ramiz Raja came just over a year after Pakistan toured England is difficult conditions around Covid-19 and ECB committed to tour Pakistan later. But now with the cancellation of the tour by England, Pakistan ‘feels cheated’
He declared on Sky Sports: ‘It is disappointing to say the least because now was the time for England to help, hold our hand because that is what our small cricket fraternity does. It is unfortunate and disappointing because it may have a domino effect.
‘New Zealand have pulled out because of a bizarre security threat that wasn’t shared with our security forces. And now England have decided to pull out. Whatever sacrifices we made to help the Covid situation, that appears to have gone. We have learned a harsh lesson.
‘It is bizarre. When it comes to Pakistan Super League, all these England players are happy to travel, but as a group, they are spooked by the situation and are not willing to share it. It is extremely frustrating. We are a resilient cricket nation, we will survive. It’s just that you feel cheated.’
Disappointed with England, pulling out of their commitment & failing a member of their Cricket fraternity when it needed it most. Survive we will inshallah. 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.
— Ramiz Raja (@iramizraja) September 20, 2021
England Cancels Pakistan Tour: PCB Chairman Ramiz Raja accuse ECB, ‘feel cheated, you failed us’
England Cancels Pakistan Tour – PCB Feels Cheated: PCB toured England during the peak of Covid-19 virus & played in tough BIO-BUBBLE conditions. This helped the ECB mitigate potential losses that could have run into millions of dollars. Pakistan returned for six white-ball matches this summer as well in a hope that ECB will return the favor by touring Pakistan.
Disappointed, yet again. We have always tried to accommodate the interests of the game but others simply don’t. We have come a long way in our cricketing journey and it will only get better with time. We will not only survive but thrive as well. In shaa’Allah. 🇵🇰❤️🏏
— Babar Azam (@babarazam258) September 21, 2021
As pay-back, it was agreed England would play their first international in Pakistan in 16 years, only for the ECB to say in a statement that they were ‘sincerely sorry for the impact’ their decision to follow New Zealand’s lead will have on cricket in the Asian country. They added that they remain committed to a full tour in 2022.
England & Wales Cricket Board Apologized for cancellation of tour
England Cancels Pakistan Tour – PCB Feels Cheated: England were scheduled to play 2 T20Is in October in Pakistan in the lead up to the T20 World Cup. The women’s team was scheduled to play as many T20is in the Asian nation as double-headers alongside the men’s fixtures.
The England and Wales Cricket Board apologized to PCB while elaborating their decision to not tour Pakistan amid security concerns. ECB said the mental well-being of their players ahead of T20 World Cup is paramount and thus decided to withdraw from the tour.
“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,” the ECB said in a statement.
“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,” the statement added.
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