Pakistan disappointed over England tour cancellation

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ramiz Raja said Monday England had failed his nation's cricket team by pulling out of its tour next month, 24NewsHD TV channel reported.

"Disappointed with England, pulling out of their commitment and failing a member of their Cricket fraternity when it needed it most," tweeted the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman.

"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."

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's cancellation was not unexpected, coming just three days after New Zealand abandoned their first tour of Pakistan for 18 years, as the first ODI was due to start in Rawalpindi on Friday.

Australia is also feared to pull out of their first tour of the country since 1998, scheduled for February and March next year.

Pakistan had gradually returned to the cricket map as hosts of international matches following a six-year hiatus in the wake of attacks on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore in 2009.

During their cricketing isolation, Pakistan was forced to play their home matches on neutral venues in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Former Pakistan skipper Javed Miandad blamed "a negative mindset of western countries". "They first force us to inspect our security and then pull out without any solid reason," said Miandad, who backed a return to neutral venues.

"Pakistan should ask them whether they want to play or not and if they say, yes, then playing in the UAE is one option because we need cricket."

Pakistan Test opener Shan Masood deplored England's decision. 

"Pakistan as a nation and as a cricketing board has made countless sacrifices and efforts after six years of exile," Masood said "We have toured to places during Covid to keep the game going, so please be there for us when we need you," said Masood, referring to Pakistan's tours of England and New Zealand.

Shoaib Akhtar said lashed out at England Cricket Board's (ECB) for cancelling its tour to Pakistan. "They are all colluders. It was expected that if New Zealand decides to call tour off, England will follow suit," he told a news channel.

"The decision was predetermined as England, Australia, and New Zealand had mutually consulted over it. They wanted to build a narrative against Pakistan and they successfully did that," Akhtar said.

As for "hesitatingly cancelling" the tour, they should first come here and carry out their assessment of the situation and see how things are in Pakistan, Akhtar said.

The former cricketer said when "they want to evacuate their soldiers", then they cannot find a better country to seek help from than Pakistan. "When they cannot find a flight, then PIA becomes the best airline."

The former cricketer noted that it was about time that PCB ran like a corporation because since the board does not have money, no other counterpart would take it seriously.