"English players happy to travel to Pakistan for PSL but as a group suddenly theyre spooked" :R Raja

[Savak]

Ramiz Raja all rage and shots

Like a toddler throwing his toys out the pram.

Other boards are probably rolling on the floor laughing at the fiasco

Other boards are thanking their lucky stars that they are not in the predicament that Pakistan finds itself in because of its Geographic position

 

[Araash]

This is an irrelevant post by you unless you can compare and contrast the exact same situation faced by another country and cricket board who handled it fantastically and got the outcome they wanted

You don't need wild imagination to think how best to handle situation like this. Strong leadership skills speak for themselves. Throwing tantrums like little kids and making exaggerated threatening claims is not how you handle any crisis. In Pakistan's case, we also need to be aware of ground realities, we have a big fat ZERO in terms of any leverage, we can't force any team to bend to our daydreamings that both Wasim and Ramiz are cooking up.

 

[Savak]

You don't need wild imagination to think how best to handle situation like this. Strong leadership skills speak for themselves. Throwing tantrums like little kids and making exaggerated threatening claims is not how you handle any crisis. In Pakistan's case, we also need to be aware of ground realities, we have a big fat ZERO in terms of any leverage, we can't force any team to bend to our daydreamings that both Wasim and Ramiz are cooking up.

People said the same thing in 2015 when the PCB was risking launching the PSL. Pakistanis under estimate themselves

 

[pratiktc]

Can only laugh at ridiculous statements and posturing by Ramiz Raja.

Seems he will just use this post as platform to continue his YouTube punditry and build up views/followers till he is inevitably thrown out.

Good that atleast one guy is trying to get some gains out of this mess

 

[Araash]

People said the same thing in 2015 when the PCB was risking launching the PSL. Pakistanis under estimate themselves

Yah let's see how the imaginative strengths of Pakistan cricket will help us bargain from the position of power in this current crisis.

 

[WengerOut]

I cant help but feel RR is fishing in troubled waters and win some brownie points with Pak fans by showing "assertiveness" in his statements when actually he is destroying the relationships further. This is what you get when you appoint an average commentator,who does not even know what is coming out of his mouth, as board chairman. Someone professional is needed here with calm heads. This is not some war to retaliate and win. RR talk is borderline jingoism.

 

[ARK Rafay]

It's really sad to see how some people in our country are bashing the country and the board in this scenario.

Back your country and board when it needs you the most.

 

[Usman Chadda]

You don't need wild imagination to think how best to handle situation like this. Strong leadership skills speak for themselves. Throwing tantrums like little kids and making exaggerated threatening claims is not how you handle any crisis. In Pakistan's case, we also need to be aware of ground realities, we have a big fat ZERO in terms of any leverage, we can't force any team to bend to our daydreamings that both Wasim and Ramiz are cooking up.

While Ramiz’s video is laughable to say the least, it’s pretty clear he is playing to the galleries here and saying exactly what he knows every Pakistani fan wants him to say.

However, some of the comments I have read since the past three days from defeated Pakistanis like yourself are just criminal. Do you have no self-respect? Do you have no shame within yourself? There is no leverage, we have no credibility, we cannot do this, we cannot say that etc. What do you lot want these guys to do? They have worked day and night to achieve a miracle, something you will never hope to do in your entire life. Their hard work has been destroyed in a matter of hours. NZ fans have no sympathy for us or our predicament, the reactions here and the reactions elsewhere has pretty much shown this is the case. They don’t care in the slightest what Pakistan fans/players/administrators are going through. This reaction is justified, as Pakistan cricket is at a dangerous crossroad right now. What do you shameless lot expect our board to do? Tell NZ, ECB we are sorry, they are our masters and keep boot licking? Cause if you think that’s gonna work, it’s not.

I can express disappointment in Ramiz’s reaction so far, as a person in his position should make use of better wording. But I will never blast him for it, as the anger is completely justified.

Have some shame loser.

 

[Last Monetarist]

Welcome to your future.

A few individuals will pimp themselves out to the PSL.

No western team will tour now that Pakistan has enabled the Taliban back to power.

Australia and England won’t tour and won’t even bother to properly justify it.

New Zealand won’t tour due to the slightest security concern.

The Pakistan government and ISI has dug Pakistan cricket into this hole, and only they can dig them back out.

There's too much at stake for the government and the intelligence services for them to even contemplate digging out of this predicament. Cricket will be considered collateral damage, there's no way back in the medium-term.

We are just going through the five stages of grief currently, there will be eventual acceptance from the PCB and the majority of cricket fans in the country. Once they reach that stage (i.e. when the PCB's coffers are empty), there will be overtures to play in an acceptable neutral venue. Till then, prepare for some more squeamish moaning and wailing.

 

[ManFan]

There's too much at stake for the government and the intelligence services for them to even contemplate digging out of this predicament. Cricket will be considered collateral damage, there's no way back in the medium-term.

We are just going through the five stages of grief currently, there will be eventual acceptance from the PCB and the majority of cricket fans in the country. Once they reach that stage (i.e. when the PCB's coffers are empty), there will be overtures to play in an acceptable neutral venue. Till then, prepare for some more squeamish moaning and wailing.

It’s not about cricket. It’s about respect.

You realize that Pakistani lives could have been lost?

 

[Last Monetarist]

It’s not about cricket. It’s about respect.

You realize that Pakistani lives could have been lost?

That is a nebulous and naive argument which doesn't even vaguely resonate with the cruel and unsentimental world of geopolitics. Not all lives are equal.

 

[kingusama92]

I cant help but feel RR is fishing in troubled waters and win some brownie points with Pak fans by showing "assertiveness" in his statements when actually he is destroying the relationships further. This is what you get when you appoint an average commentator,who does not even know what is coming out of his mouth, as board chairman. Someone professional is needed here with calm heads. This is not some war to retaliate and win. RR talk is borderline jingoism.

To be fair, there is no relationship to save when that country doesn't even respect innocent Pakistani lives. That should be the bare minimum between two cricketing nations.

 

[ManFan]

That is a nebulous and naive argument which doesn't even vaguely resonate with the cruel and unsentimental world of geopolitics. Not all lives are equal.

I understand that.

But this isn’t a geopolitical forum.

It’s a cricket forum and we could have easily seen a worse situation like that of 09’ again because of a lack of communication.

 

[WengerOut]

To be fair, there is no relationship to save when that country doesn't even respect innocent Pakistani lives. That should be the bare minimum between two cricketing nations.

Why is he attacking Eng players here?

 

[Last Monetarist]

I understand that.

But this isn’t a geopolitical forum.

It’s a cricket forum and we could have easily seen a worse situation like that of 09’ again because of a lack of communication.

In this case cricket and geopolitics are intricately linked, you can't escape from it. The fact of the matter is that cricket is the only remaining tangible link between Pakistan and the (anglo-saxon) west, there was limited cultural similarity to begin with. Any geopolitical vengeance in the shape of a cultural boycott can only effectively flow through cricket unfortunately.

 

[kingusama92]

Why is he attacking Eng players here?

Because the ECB itself used them as a shield.

Pointing to Covid-19 fatigue for a couple of games is a terrible excuse. Everyone can read between the lines and England has lumped itself with NZ now.

It's why he criticized everyone including the players since the ECB was trying to pass it off as a legitimate reason.

 

[ahmedzee]

India sent a letter to WICB asking for compensation. WICB instead offered to tour India. That settled the matter.

Exactly. Suing took place for other party to negotiate and settle the matter. That was my point.

 

[Mesozoic]

Previously our focus was on India, now i have directed the players to aim for England and NZ as well.

What a silly, immature and a juvenile statement to make when you're the freaking chairman of your nation's cricket board! Ramiz should have sticked to making lame jokes in the comm box.

 

[Shoaibbtt]

If I were a Pakistan cricketer I would be so pumped right now to face New Zealand at least!

I am hoping Mohammad Rizwan blasts his usual 40 ball 60 odd and we can post 160+ and spin those ***** out!

"Be water my friend"- Bruce Lee. Calmness is the key.

 

[Sherlock]

The Times : There has been no change to security...

The Times understands there has been no change to the general advice given, at government level or by the ECB’s security consultants, in the wake of the specific threat that caused New Zealand to cancel their tour.

Basically the security wasn't the issue, but the 'player welfare' was. Which is utterly rubbish.

Sad state of affairs when when the governing body cannot do anything to stop certain boards from taking unilateral decisions that don't even have generic basis anymore.

 

[Titan24]

Yes there was no change to travel advisory as well as I mentioned in another thread as well. The only recent update was Pak moving to amber lost (out of red).

 

[Smbhayi]

He spoke well, you guys did not like it, understandably.

Lol.. You guys will like what he's said bcoz that you felt.. But Ramiz Raja isn't any random pak fan, he's the chairman of pcb.. How players will felt when he's attacking them and how it exactly helps to improve the situation?

 

[Savak]

The PCB needs to use these facts as grounds for legal action and compensation.

 

[JaDed]

What a silly, immature and a juvenile statement to make when you're the freaking chairman of your nation's cricket board! Ramiz should have sticked to making lame jokes in the comm box.

I was surprised to see such statement as well , I mean focus on WT20 maybe? lol

 

[jeeteshssaxena]

What a silly, immature and a juvenile statement to make when you're the freaking chairman of your nation's cricket board! Ramiz should have sticked to making lame jokes in the comm box.

Lol, Imagine the pressure on Pakistani players due to all these comments! They have no choice except winning.

I am quite sure that this time Pakistan will feel more heat going against Nz in the wt20 than they do against India.

 

[cricketAXEpert]

PCB needs to bring back Najam Sethi.

Najam Sethi, What on Earth is he going to do? How was he going to persuade NZ or England to tour?

 

[cricketAXEpert]

Basically the security wasn't the issue, but the 'player welfare' was. Which is utterly rubbish.

Sad state of affairs when when the governing body cannot do anything to stop certain boards from taking unilateral decisions that don't even have generic basis anymore.

Looks like ECB choose the worse excuse possible. This actually means that ECB does not share the security concerns of NZ. PCB should exploit that and reinvite them. Also tell NZ and Australia that ECB had no security concerns. Infact PCB should now advertise this that ECB had no security concerns

 

[Extreme Pace]

And how do suggest they do that if they are not willing to share where the threat came from, or if there was a credible threat

The Pakistan government and intelligence agencies need to exert diplomatic pressure on the relevant governments/agencies and find out what caused this.

 

[cric_man]

Looks like ECB choose the worse excuse possible. This actually means that ECB does not share the security concerns of NZ. PCB should exploit that and reinvite them. Also tell NZ and Australia that ECB had no security concerns. Infact PCB should now advertise this that ECB had no security concerns

That is the irony here. NZL Gov does not have the intel capacity in the region to have gotten it themselves. It was most probably the Brits who provided the "Clear & Present Danger" Intelligence to the kiwis. They got spooked and over reacted. Seeing the blowback, English played it safe by citing COVID fatigue. However the UK high commissioner in Pakistan says there is no security threat nor did the British Government officially publish any travel advisory for UK citizens recently.
This whole episode has bigger GeoPolitical implications, NZL was just a pawn that did the bidding unfortunately.

 

[Savak]

That is the irony here. NZL Gov does not have the intel capacity in the region to have gotten it themselves. It was most probably the Brits who provided the "Clear & Present Danger" Intelligence to the kiwis. They got spooked and over reacted. Seeing the blowback, English played it safe by citing COVID fatigue. However the UK high commissioner in Pakistan says there is no security threat nor did the British Government officially publish any travel advisory for UK citizens recently.
This whole episode has bigger GeoPolitical implications, NZL was just a pawn that did the bidding unfortunately.

The inconsistency in the statements and version will give PCB strong ammunition to pursue the legal route for compensation.

 

[Bewal Express]

The Pakistan government and intelligence agencies need to exert diplomatic pressure on the relevant governments/agencies and find out what caused this.

And you think they will play ball after their humiliation in Afg

 

[Jeetlodil]

Do you have any proof it is RAW Intel or is this another one of your fairy tales.

I think he means financial pressure put by BCCI on ECB / NZ.

Indians are yet to recover from the Afghanistan shock. It will take some time. Till then India will keep doing ban tik tok or ban cricket type moves.

 

[Tera Gawaandi]

Even if Pakistan beats Eng, NZ and India at WC, what that has to do with teams not touring Pakistan? Why PCB chairman talking like an immature fan. This should be behind the doors not on TV.

Other day posters were sobbing at Wasim Khan's photo, so many body language experts here.

 

[JaDed]

I think he means financial pressure put by BCCI on ECB / NZ.

Indians are yet to recover from the Afghanistan shock. It will take some time. Till then India will keep doing ban tik tok or ban cricket type moves.

Your minister Fawad Chaudhary thinks otherwise, stop blaming everything on BCCI/ India

https://www.dawn.com/news/1647615

 

[cricketjoshila]

Exactly. Suing took place for other party to negotiate and settle the matter. That was my point.

There was no suing. No suit filed. Just a letter by bcci.

 

[MenInG]

Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ramiz Raja said on Tuesday he felt "used and then binned" after England cancelled a white-ball tour for their men's and women's teams next month.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) cited "increasing concerns about travelling to the region" just days after New Zealand also pulled out of a tour to Pakistan over security concerns.

However, the ECB statement highlighted player welfare as the key consideration with many feeling the strain of operating in bubbles to prevent the spread of coronavirus cases over the past two years.

The first trip by the England men's side to Pakistan since 2005 and first ever for the women's team was due to see Rawalpindi host men's and women's Twenty20 double-headers on October 13 and 14.

Heather Knight's women's team were then due to play three one-day internationals (ODIs) in the same city.

Reaction to the withdrawal in Pakistan has been furious.

Pakistan travelled to England last year at a time when Covid-19 infection rates in Britain were among the highest in the world for a three-match Test and T20 series that saved the ECB millions in television rights deals.

"It's the feeling of being used and then binned. That's the feeling I have right now," Raja told reporters.

"A little bit of hand-holding, a little bit of caring was needed after the New Zealand pull out and we didn't get that from England which is so frustrating.

"We've been going out of our way to meet the international demands, being such a responsible member of the cricketing fraternity, and in return we get a response from ECB saying the players were spooked by New Zealand's withdrawal. What does that mean?"

- 'One feels humiliated' -

New Zealand officials refused to give details of the security threat that forced them to abruptly cancel their matches.

A deadly 2009 attack on the Sri Lanka team bus in Lahore saw Pakistan become a no-go destination for international teams.

In 2012 and 2015 Pakistan hosted England in the UAE, which has staged most of their "home" games since the attack.

A rapid improvement in security in recent years has led to the return of international cricket, with Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, the West Indies, South Africa and Bangladesh touring in the past six years.

The series was supposed to be part of the preparation for England's men ahead of next month's T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates and Oman.

But many of their star players would now be free to play in the latter stages of the lucrative Indian Premier League, also being hosted in the UAE, should their sides reach the knockout phase.

"It's a fantastic dichotomy isn't it," added Raja.

"You are quoting fatigue and mental tension and players being spooked and a hour-and-a-half flight from here before a World Cup they are quite happy to be caged in a bubble environment and carry on with the tournament.

"One feels slighted, one feels humiliated because withdrawal doesn't have an answer."

The ECB's decision has also been met with fierce criticism at home.

"English cricket, the governing body and players, had a chance to do the right thing this week," former England Test captain Michael Atherton wrote in The Times.

"They had a chance to repay a debt, uphold their honour and side with a cricketing nation that has undergone the kind of challenges others cannot even begin to contemplate.

"Instead, citing a mealy-mouthed statement, they did the wrong thing."

https://www.france24.com/en/live-ne...sed-and-binned-by-england-over-cancelled-tour

 

[MenInG]

Quotes from Ramiz Raja's presser today:

"I spoke to Ian [Watmore] about this and I said what is the guarantee of England coming back in 2022 and playing because a month before that tour you can easily quote tiredness, players being spooked, or sick of living in a bubble, or a threat perception not being shared with us - He clearly had no answer to that, so we'll have a back-up plan for sure."
"It's a feeling of being used and binned. That is the feeling. A little bit of handholding, a little bit of caring was needed after New Zealand pulled out and we didn't get that from the ECB.

"In going out of our way to accommodate, to adjust to international demands, to being a responsible part of the fraternity and in return we get a response from the ECB that the players were spooked by NZ withdrawal - what does that mean? We offered them housing just next door to the stadium in Lahore in the NHPC (National High Performance Centre). It was about helping a member of the cricket fraternity when they needed you most and we didn't get that from the ECB."

"It seemed as if the decision was out of Watmore's hands, that there were other influencers who made the call on his behalf, but the fact is when you travel to subcontinent, you have to have that mindset that there will be bumps along the way. You're not traveling to a Western nation. You come here with that emotional spirit, that we are here, against the odds, trying to stretch our comfort zones, to play out matches to make sure we are behind Pakistan. We didn't see that from New Zealand or England."

"It's a fantastic dichotomy, you're quoting mental tensions, player fatigue, players being spooked and what, Dubai is about an hour and half from here and so before the World Cup, they're quite happy to be caged in a bubble environment and carry on with that tournament. One feels slighted. Humiliated. Withdrawal doesn't have an answer, frankly speaking."

"We get together as a group and talk a lot but don't address elephants in the room, for example security, or pulling out of tours, or why is there a bloc of two to three countries running the show. It's cosmetic more than anything else. We've tried to create a bond, tried to make sure we play by the book, made sure we go out and play in New Zealand, in quarantine times, to England and elsewhere. We've been a very responsible member of this fraternity and in return we get nothing. So obviously we think it is cosmetic, it is self-interest."

"Nothing will come out of this. We need to grow our own cricket economy. We have a lot of potential in Pakistan. We have to have the best team in the world. Not give excuses to teams not to come. We get our economics covered and our cricket covered through performances. That is the best we can do. But to seek help and advice and guidance and knock some sense at that level, it's going to be extremely tough."

 

[ahmedzee]

There was no suing. No suit filed. Just a letter by bcci.

There was claim for some X amount of dollar figure if I am
Not correct. Suing was a vague term I used for it.

https://www.thehindu.com/sport/cric...damages-claim-on-wicb/article6555101.ece/amp/

 

[Golden arm]

Ramiz Raja all rage and shots

Like a toddler throwing his toys out the pram.

Other boards are probably rolling on the floor laughing at the fiasco

absolutely spot on, he is acting like a spoiled emotional teenager, I am not surprised, this is how the desi mindset works, we expect every body to be fair and return the favours, where as the reality is this world is transactional and depends on how much that decision can back-fire.

Kiwis and Eng know, nothing is going to happen as long as they have Indian back. Hint Kiwi invited to visit India right after they pulled out of Pak tour.

 

[Golden arm]

Quotes from Ramiz Raja's presser today:

"I spoke to Ian [Watmore] about this and I said what is the guarantee of England coming back in 2022 and playing because a month before that tour you can easily quote tiredness, players being spooked, or sick of living in a bubble, or a threat perception not being shared with us - He clearly had no answer to that, so we'll have a back-up plan for sure."
"It's a feeling of being used and binned. That is the feeling. A little bit of handholding, a little bit of caring was needed after New Zealand pulled out and we didn't get that from the ECB.

"In going out of our way to accommodate, to adjust to international demands, to being a responsible part of the fraternity and in return we get a response from the ECB that the players were spooked by NZ withdrawal - what does that mean? We offered them housing just next door to the stadium in Lahore in the NHPC (National High Performance Centre). It was about helping a member of the cricket fraternity when they needed you most and we didn't get that from the ECB."

"It seemed as if the decision was out of Watmore's hands, that there were other influencers who made the call on his behalf, but the fact is when you travel to subcontinent, you have to have that mindset that there will be bumps along the way. You're not traveling to a Western nation. You come here with that emotional spirit, that we are here, against the odds, trying to stretch our comfort zones, to play out matches to make sure we are behind Pakistan. We didn't see that from New Zealand or England."

"It's a fantastic dichotomy, you're quoting mental tensions, player fatigue, players being spooked and what, Dubai is about an hour and half from here and so before the World Cup, they're quite happy to be caged in a bubble environment and carry on with that tournament. One feels slighted. Humiliated. Withdrawal doesn't have an answer, frankly speaking."

"We get together as a group and talk a lot but don't address elephants in the room, for example security, or pulling out of tours, or why is there a bloc of two to three countries running the show. It's cosmetic more than anything else. We've tried to create a bond, tried to make sure we play by the book, made sure we go out and play in New Zealand, in quarantine times, to England and elsewhere. We've been a very responsible member of this fraternity and in return we get nothing. So obviously we think it is cosmetic, it is self-interest."

"Nothing will come out of this. We need to grow our own cricket economy. We have a lot of potential in Pakistan. We have to have the best team in the world. Not give excuses to teams not to come. We get our economics covered and our cricket covered through performances. That is the best we can do. But to seek help and advice and guidance and knock some sense at that level, it's going to be extremely tough."

we have to be financially sound and please add on 5-star hotels adjacent to the stadium. this is going to be new reality, we have not done any thing in last 20 years, that's sad

 

[offstump]

5 star hotels next to the stadium isn’t a solution. A security threat could be cited that the players will be attacked as soon as they step out of their rooms. I agree that we need to be financially sound, we need some government support here as a launching pad.

 

[street cricketer]

absolutely spot on, he is acting like a spoiled emotional teenager, I am not surprised, this is how the desi mindset works, we expect every body to be fair and return the favours, where as the reality is this world is transactional and depends on how much that decision can back-fire.

Kiwis and Eng know, nothing is going to happen as long as they have Indian back. Hint Kiwi invited to visit India right after they pulled out of Pak tour.

NZ was scheduled to tour India for two tests long back.

 

[Balthazar]

Instead of questioning ECB and their failed commitment, this guy is targeting their players for participating in PSL... lol

 

[Itachi]

I am surprised that people are failing to find the difference between choices as an individual and that of an institution.

If I want to travel somewhere, and if I get NOC from my employee organization, the organization won't be held responsible for any mishaps that goes while I was on travel.

But if I am representing the organization in a travel trip, then that organization has full responsibility of my well being and if somewhat goes wrong, it wont be I who is responsible but the organization who sent me there in the first place.

No organization will want this liability especially in an unstable country such as Pakistan. Unless the reward is more than the liability.

 

[RyanRyan10]

NZ was scheduled to tour India for two tests long back.

Not sure if they are uniformed or intentionally doing it as they have got a perfect opportunity to attack us.

 

[cricketjoshila]

There was claim for some X amount of dollar figure if I am
Not correct. Suing was a vague term I used for it.

https://www.thehindu.com/sport/cric...damages-claim-on-wicb/article6555101.ece/amp/

I have sent a letter to the WICB claiming damages to the tune of Rs 250 crore ($42 million). I have already sent them the letter demanding the compensation for pulling out of the bilateral series despite repeated requests and assurances of helping them out,” BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel said.

It has been learnt that the BCCI has given WICB about two weeks time to come up with a compensation plan failing which the Caribbean Board will have lawsuit.

From the same link you posted.

WI proposed to tour and it was accepted.

 

[OMB]

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Not sure if it is appropriate for a PCB Chairman to be giving out YT videos. He spoke like a head of state here

Some snippets

- Previously our focus was on India, now i have directed the players to aim for England and NZ as well

- We have already written to the ICC complaining about NZ, but we will get compensation from them and i am giving it to you in writing that i will get compensation from them

- The biggest lesson for us from this experience is that we need to really strengthen our cricketing economy to have relevance

- We have gone out of our way to accomodate sides around the world both as tourists and as hosts but when it comes to taking people head on we will

So far all words, lets see if Ramiz can walk the talk and is not all bark as well. Him and WK can make a great combination

Glad to know India is out of focus. BCCI honchos have stopped quaking and are somewhat relieved.

 

[Extreme Pace]

The Pakistan government and intelligence agencies need to exert diplomatic pressure on the relevant governments/agencies and find out what caused this.

I doubt they will, my suspicion is this is more of move by CIA/US Government. But still ISI/Pak Gov needs to try and find out, blaming the NZ and Eng players is pointless. The decision came from their intelligence agencies not the players.

 

[MenInG]

The England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) continues to court criticism over the cancelled tour of Pakistan. After the British High Commission of Pakistan clarified that it played no role in the tour's cancellation, it has now been reported that even the England players were not consulted before the ECB decided against suspending the series.

A Team England Player Partnership (England cricketers' union) official, speaking to the Daily Mail UK, confirmed that neither did an England player (male or female) express his/her apprehension towards the tour nor was anyone consulted by the ECB.

"At no stage has the ECB ever asked Team England Player Partnership or the teams, men and women, whether the tour should go ahead or whether players were prepared to tour Pakistan. At no stage has Team England Player Partnership informed the ECB that the players would not be touring," the official said.

The ECB acted upon the decision taken by New Zealand Cricket (NZC) who were reportedly informed of a security threat to its players involved in the series. According to a TEPP spokesperson, the ECB held a meeting on Sunday where the decision to cancel the tour of Pakistan was taken. The players were informed of the decision but no consultation was sought while the fate of the series was being decided in the meeting

"The ECB board met last Sunday to debate the tour to Pakistan. That afternoon we were informed the tour had been cancelled. Team England Player Partnership was not asked for our input and we were not involved in the decision to cancel the tour," the spokesperson revealed.

The England board has received plenty of criticism over their decision, especially from PCB chairman Ramiz Raja. He is even preparing a contingency plan for England's tour of Pakistan next year, in case the ECB decides to opt out of the assignment yet again.

https://www.timesnownews.com/sports...board-didnt-seek-opinion-either-report/816104

 

[ahsan17]

One would think ECB would have the common sense to validate the so-called security threat which resulted in NZ pulling off their stunt (aka withdrawal). Since UK is also part of 5 eyes, they would have had access to the same intelligence and could have advised them to tour or not. Since UK government did not advise them to not tour, it also likely means the intelligence that made NZ pull of their stunt was bogus.

 

[Flat_Track_Bully]

One would think ECB would have the common sense to validate the so-called security threat which resulted in NZ pulling off their stunt (aka withdrawal). Since UK is also part of 5 eyes, they would have had access to the same intelligence and could have advised them to tour or not. Since UK government did not advise them to not tour, it also likely means the intelligence that made NZ pull of their stunt was bogus.

Ofcourse it was bogus, it was just an Indian trying his luck.

 

[Pakhs]

I dont think its the players it the ECB who cancelled the tour without actually consulting the players. In any case where there is money (PSL) there is always a will.

 

[Usman Chadda]

One would think ECB would have the common sense to validate the so-called security threat which resulted in NZ pulling off their stunt (aka withdrawal). Since UK is also part of 5 eyes, they would have had access to the same intelligence and could have advised them to tour or not. Since UK government did not advise them to not tour, it also likely means the intelligence that made NZ pull of their stunt was bogus.

Would have been even more embarrassing, since the British High Commissioner, journalists, ministers etc have no issues destroying the ECB’s credibility any chance they get.

 

[Titan24]

Government says they weren’t involved and that ECB’s decision has damaged the relationship between two countries while players say they weren’t asked anything.

Ian Watmore has some answering to do.

 

[MenInG]

Former spinner Mushtaq Ahmed believes that England's cricketers would happily tour Pakistan and says his country deserved better having travelled the other way at the height of the pandemic.

Ahmed, who has a foot in both camps after serving as England's spin-bowling coach in 2009-2015, voiced his frustration to AFP after English cricket chiefs controversially cancelled tours for their men's and women's teams next month to cricket-crazy Pakistan.

The first trip by the England men's side to Pakistan since 2005 was only meant to last four days with two Twenty20 matches in Rawalpindi.

But the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) last week cited "increasing concerns about travelling to the region", days after New Zealand abandoned their tour of Pakistan minutes before the start of the first one-day international in Rawalpindi, citing a security alert.

The ECB decision was met with fury in Pakistan which only went up a notch after the Daily Mail newspaper reported that the England players were not consulted.

"I think from my experience, playing in England and also coach of England for six years, I think the guys are very open-minded and they know the circumstances of the world," Ahmed, 51, said of the English players.

"I know them -- I played with lots of cricketers, I coached them for six years, I played (English) county cricket," he added.

"I think (the) players will definitely come now," he said, pointing out that a number of England players had featured in the Pakistan Super League in recent seasons.

Ahmed said that Pakistan deserved better after they toured England last year.

Pakistan travelled a time when Covid-19 infection rates in Britain were among the highest in the world for a three-match Test and T20 series that saved the ECB millions in television rights deals.

"If (a) team can travel in corona (virus) situation when the people were dying (in Britain) and Pakistan went to England and played a series, then they should have acknowledged that and they should respect that," said Ahmed.

- Becoming a hero -

Ahmed, who played 52 Tests, 144 one-day internationals and was a member of Pakistan's 1992 World Cup-winning team, said that other cricket tours and tournaments had gone ahead in countries where there had been terror attacks.

However, a deadly 2009 attack on the Sri Lanka team bus in Lahore saw Pakistan become a no-go destination for international teams.

In 2012 and 2015 Pakistan hosted England in the UAE, which has staged most of their "home" games since the attack.

Ahmed said having to play away from Pakistan was "very difficult" for the team.

"I am saying that because heroes become heroes when they play in front of their home crowds and that is when you start believing that you can represent your country -- you deserve that platform," he said.

"When you play in Pakistan I remember that I used to feel different body language in me and used to have a different mindset," he added.

"I used to think that when you take a wicket, take a brilliant catch, the kind of reception from Pakistan people (is amazing).

"When you hit a six, the way the crowds used to shout, you become a hero."

https://www.france24.com/en/live-ne...d-tour-pakistan-says-frustrated-mushtaq-ahmed