ECB decide to withdraw both teams from the October trip to Pakistan

[Sherlock]

The more I hear from ex-players and commentators alike the more I realised this is indeed a case of player welfare and has nothing to do with security. In fact the initial ECB statement didn't mention security at all.

I'm sorry but if this was against one of the 'top 3' sides you'd get the ECB putting aside player welfare and touring.

It's really sad to see this is what cricket has turned to.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

There is no such thing as remembering kindness unless you are Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

If anything, this entire situation has shown what great friends Sri Lanka are.

And though I don't want to be presumptuous, I have higher hopes from Bangladesh and West Indies too.

 

[Titan24]

Ramiz mentioned in his press conference that ECB CE said that “worry not we will be touring in 2022” to which Ramiz said “whats the guarantee as one fine day you can wake up and say there is more turbulence on Pak’s neighbour side so we are not coming”.

 

[MenInG]

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Information Minister Chaudhry Fawad Hussain said on Tuesday his country was mulling legal action against the cricket boards of England and New Zealand for causing losses worth millions of rupees to the state broadcaster after the two teams pulled out of scheduled series against Pakistan.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said on Monday it had “reluctantly” decided to withdraw its men’s and women’s teams from coming to Pakistan for games in October. ECB’s announcement came just days after New Zealand Cricket said it was abandoning its series with Pakistan “following a New Zealand government security alert.”

“Cancellation of New Zealand and England tours has cost PTV (Pakistan Television) millions of rupees,” Hussain said in a tweet. “[We] will consult lawyers for legal action against both boards.”

In a video message posted on the PCB Twitter handle late on Monday, the Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ramiz Raja said he was “severely disappointed” because of England’s withdrawal, but it was very much expected as the “Western bloc” unfortunately got united in an attempt to back each other.

“This decision was expected but this is a lesson for us because we go out of our way to accommodate and pamper these sides when they visit,” he said.

The PCB chief said the tour of West Indian cricket team could also be hit by the recent developments, while Australia was already reconsidering its decision to tour Pakistan. “This England, Australia and New Zealand are all one bloc,” he said, questioning, “Who can we complain to?”

International cricket teams stopped visiting Pakistan after the 2009 attack on Sri Lankan players near Qaddafi Stadium in Lahore. However, international matches partially resumed in May 2015, when Zimbabwe toured the South Asian country, followed by the West Indies and Sri Lankan cricket teams.

Successive Pakistani governments and the PCB have tried hard to convince international players to visit the country by offering them huge sums in remuneration for local leagues, along with fool-proof security arrangements.

https://www.arabnews.pk/node/1932806/pakistan

 

[Sherlock]

British High Commission - 'ECB's decision was independent from what we advised'

British govt did not advise against ECB's Pakistan tour on security grounds : Envoy

https://www.dawn.com/news/1647624

 

[Buffet]

British govt did not advise against ECB's Pakistan tour on security grounds : Envoy

https://www.dawn.com/news/1647624

So the reason was purely covid and fatigue for 2 T20s?

It seems clear that all this talk about the western government punishing Pakistan seems was wrong.

So many teams have played long tours in covid. A few days back India finished the tour of Eng and they were in Eng for 3-4 months. The touring party had a covid outbreak and still, ECB thought that Indians should have stayed longer in Eng.

In one way, it should be positive for Pakistan because western blocks are not canceling tours due to security. Future tours are more likely in that scenario.

 

[sam_ahm]

Taliban were in power during the 90s and as far as I remember Pakistan regularly hosted all international games at home, including a very well hosted 1996 World Cup. All the disturbing incidents, 2002 Blast near Nzl team Hotel, 2009 attack on SLN team bus, no cricket in Pakistan for a decade during 2010s all happened when Taliban were not in power.

I think relating this turbulence in Afghanistan to security issues in Pakistan is incorrect and without any base. Of course my post doesn't defend or support Taliban in any way, I'm just saying it should have no impact on Pakistan cricket as projected by some western countries.

Having said all that I suck at politics, this is just my interpretation based on history.

 

[Sherlock]

I think the PCB has a better chance of legal action against ECB than it may against NZ.

NZ can state they were advised against touring due to their government etc.

England can't say the same as the government hasn't advised against going over to Pakistan, and in fact the security advisors haven't either.

 

[Sherlock]

Isn't NZ touring India in November?

So they can't on one hand claim Pakistan is unsafe because of the region, and then on the other hand tour the same region... Oh wait, of course they can. It's not Pakistan.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

I think the PCB has a better chance of legal action against ECB than it may against NZ.

NZ can state they were advised against touring due to their government etc.

England can't say the same as the government hasn't advised against going over to Pakistan, and in fact the security advisors haven't either.

Yep.

The hate against NZ is misdirected.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

Taliban were in power during the 90s and as far as I remember Pakistan regularly hosted all international games at home, including a very well hosted 1996 World Cup. All the disturbing incidents, 2002 Blast near Nzl team Hotel, 2009 attack on SLN team bus, no cricket in Pakistan for a decade during 2010s all happened when Taliban were not in power.

I think relating this turbulence in Afghanistan to security issues in Pakistan is incorrect and without any base. Of course my post doesn't defend or support Taliban in any way, I'm just saying it should have no impact on Pakistan cricket as projected by some western countries.

Having said all that I suck at politics, this is just my interpretation based on history.

Its not the same situation now tho.

So much changed over the years so cant compare with 1996.

 

[Ab Fan]

I think the PCB has a better chance of legal action against ECB than it may against NZ.

NZ can state they were advised against touring due to their government etc.

England can't say the same as the government hasn't advised against going over to Pakistan, and in fact the security advisors haven't either.

I am actually surprised with the hate that Pakistani posters have shown towards NZ cricket and its govt compared to England. Maybe it is because most of the Pakistani fans over here either live in England or have become England fans of late after watching cricket go downhill in Pakistan.

 

[Sherlock]

I am actually surprised with the hate that Pakistani posters have shown towards NZ cricket and its govt compared to England. Maybe it is because most of the Pakistani fans over here either live in England or have become England fans of late after watching cricket go downhill in Pakistan.

I think, and its only my view but, it may because NZ chose to cancel the tour so close to the initial match, then put out a statement saying it was due to security but they weren't willing to share that info publicly or in private. In turn saying NZ lives were more important than Pakistani lives.

They also were the main reason ECB had an excuse to not tour.

All that being said the vitriol toward NZ is nothing short of idiotic.

 

[Mp812]

The more I hear from ex-players and commentators alike the more I realised this is indeed a case of player welfare and has nothing to do with security. In fact the initial ECB statement didn't mention security at all.

I'm sorry but if this was against one of the 'top 3' sides you'd get the ECB putting aside player welfare and touring.

It's really sad to see this is what cricket has turned to.

In that case it would be still "player welfare"...financially

 

[Saj]

15 English players in PSL7.

Hope their mental health and well-being will be ok whilst at the PSL.

 

[HappyWarsFan]

15 English players in PSL7.

Hope their mental health and well-being will be ok whilst at the PSL.

$$$ suddenly cures mental health and "security concerns".