London: England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB)’s withdrawal from the men and women teams’ tour of Pakistan has made UK’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson and other senior officials unhappy.
According to publication ‘The Times’, the Prime Minister and senior officials within the Foreign and Commonwealth Office believe that the decision, which was made on player welfare grounds rather than issues of security by the ECB, has damaged relations between the UK and the Pakistan government.
On Tuesday, the British High Commissioner to Pakistan, Christian Turner, issued a statement via Twitter, distancing himself from the ECB’s decision not to tour, which he said had been made independently of the country’s government.
“The British High Commission supported the tour, did not advise against in on security grounds, and our travel advice for Pakistan has not changed,” Turner said.
“I have been a champion of international cricket’s return to Pakistan and will redouble my efforts in advance of England’s autumn 2022 tour. My thanks to all at the PCB who have worked so hard in support of that.”
It must be noted that England had to play two T20Is at the Pindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi on 13 and 14 October. England women’s team also had to play as many T20Is against Pakistan women on the same day.
England women’s team had to stay back for the three ODIs on 17, 19, and 21 October.
England men’s team are also scheduled to play in Pakistan in 2022 as per Future Tours Program (FTP) but PCB has started to look on other plans as they don’t want to see another withdrawal from the ECB just before the tour.
Read: Buttler admits it’s shame England’s tour to Pakistan was called off
from ARYSports.tv https://ift.tt/3lUCzYQ
0 Comments