[VIDEOS] A long and arduous tour comes to an end - time to thank our players for their courage

[MenInG]

PCB thanks Pakistan men’s cricket team

Lahore, 2 September 2020:

Pakistan Cricket Board Chief Executive Wasim Khan today thanked and congratulated the 44-member squad on the completion of a challenging, demanding and unprecedented tour of England in the backdrop of the Covid-19 situation that made the players adhere to strict protocols, including restricted movement during their 10-week tour.

PCB Chief Executive Wasim Khan: “On behalf of the PCB, I am grateful to each and every player and support staff personnel for their extraordinary display of courage, sacrifice and dedication for the resumption of cricket during extremely tough and uncertain times. Not only the PCB, but the entire cricket community and fans acknowledge their gesture and appreciate them for rising to the occasion.

“It is human instinct to surround oneself with family and loved ones in times of trouble, but these men put the larger interests of the country and the game before themselves by committing to this tour. It has made me extremely proud that these men raised their hands for this unusual two-and-a-half-month-long journey despite an option to withdraw from it due to grave Covid-19 situation at their destination.

“During the tour, they not only played highly competitive cricket but strictly within the rich traditions of the game, which further enhanced the reputation and image of Pakistan, cricket and the PCB. While history will remember this tour as a series of missed opportunities, it will also remember these extraordinary cricketers who gave preference to cricket and national interests. With people like these, the future of Pakistan cricket is strong and safe.

“Our players and staff will be returning this evening and I wish them a safe travel.

“I also want to take this opportunity to thank the England and Wales Cricket Board for providing over-the-top hospitality to our team. They were looked after really well and were provided top-notch facilities.

“We will now look forward to working closely with ECB in the coming months to plan their tour to Pakistan in 2022.”

 

[MenInG]

And they have arrived back in Pakistan....

<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 50%;"><iframe src="https://streamable.com/e/k0fdv3" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="100%" allowfullscreen style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;"></iframe></div>

 

[MenInG]

Ask yourself in these times of COVID-19, how many trips to the shops or even trips to foreign lands that we gave up due to fears of catching this at times deadly disease?

And now think of these players who were sent away from home in an alien environment, and how well they adjusted and lived away from comforts of home in hotels (sometimes not the best ones) - and did so without a complaint.

We may be angry/concerned about cricket affairs but when it comes to the human side of things, I take my hat off for all our players and support personnel.

Thank you and am glad that you are all safe and sound back home.

To underscore the human aspect, I leave you with this video tweeted by Azhar Ali of him seeing his child after a good few months - as a father, I can almost imagine the emotions that the family must gone through when seeing their father and husband after so long.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">So nice to be back with family after over 2 months missed them a lot... <a href="https://twitter.com/TheRealPCBMedia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheRealPCBMedia</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/TheRealPCB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheRealPCB</a> <a href="https://t.co/xg1b0ote8V">pic.twitter.com/xg1b0ote8V</a></p>— Azhar Ali (@AzharAli_) <a href="https://twitter.com/AzharAli_/status/1301222166889934852?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 2, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Mueez]

All things aside - thanks to our players for playing some cricket and entertaining us, the fans during these difficult times!

 

[Abdullah719]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">And this is who we do it for<br><br>Great to be home back with family after a long 2 month trip<br><br>Family give you the best joy like no other &#55358;&#56599; <a href="https://t.co/LqTOSOySkF">pic.twitter.com/LqTOSOySkF</a></p>— Wahab Riaz (@WahabViki) <a href="https://twitter.com/WahabViki/status/1301228036675821575?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 2, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[BreadPakoda]

Thanks for the entertainment to all the boards, players, and staff (UK, WI, Pak).

Previous month or so has been so stressful for many of us and cricket provided some bit of relief.

 

[Markhor]

Thanks guys for entertaining us in what's been a tragic and difficult year for so many. Cricket is an escape and we badly needed it back on our screens.

Rest up and spend time with the people who really matter now.

 

[Titan24]

It takes a lot of courage to go for a cricket tour under these circumstances and being away from your family for more than 2 months in this difficult time under bio secure environment. Not to forget that UK was pretty badly effected at the time when all of our players and support staff agreed to tour.

Well done guys and thank you and providing much needed escape to most of the cricket lovers around the globe.

 

[shamaan]

Well done to everyone nice to see everyone back with their families

 

[MenInG]

Thanks guys for entertaining us in what's been a tragic and difficult year for so many. Cricket is an escape and we badly needed it back on our screens.

Rest up and spend time with the people who really matter now.

Very well put.

Think the human dimension of all this business needs to be kept in mind at all times.

 

[naseem]

Thnks 2 all the players esp Pak Wi who spend approx 2 months away 4rm family......enjoy the family time

 

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Pakistan squad, who were in a bio-secure environment for over two months, should feel proud of what they have done for the international game this summer and particularly for English cricket <a href="https://t.co/zyb7CsOmEn">https://t.co/zyb7CsOmEn</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/1301501027150163968?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 3, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[ZamanFan]

Rofl If Pcb had so many issues why did they plan this tour?

Nice way to deflect responsibility and your poor pathetic role in destroying the national side which lost the first test series in 10 years in UK. if was not for the rain Pakistan team survived innings defeat twice and a whitewash. Picking of ciaches, the squad, the hyper young t20 captain, fans losing interest from this yeam, etc.. Hope someone asks these important questions.

 

[MenInG]

Rofl If Pcb had so many issues why did they plan this tour?

Nice way to deflect responsibility and your poor pathetic role in destroying the national side which lost the first test series in 10 years in UK. if was not for the rain Pakistan team survived innings defeat twice and a whitewash. Picking of ciaches, the squad, the hyper young t20 captain, fans losing interest from this yeam, etc.. Hope someone asks these important questions.

Whatever our views on cricket maybe - we must thank our players for their efforts to make this trip.

 

[sweep_shot]

Well done!

We finally got some cricket. We needed it.

 

[MenInG]

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