British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has expressed displeasure over the decision of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to cancel the tour of Pakistan. scheduled for November, according to a report published in many times.
of the ECB Decision The first ODI at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium came just three days after New Zealand abandoned their tour of Pakistan citing a “security threat” – a move that shocked Pakistan’s cricket fraternity and fans.
The England men’s team was to tour Pakistan after a gap of 16 years, while the women’s team was coming here to play two T20 matches for the first time.
Sharing the reasons for canceling the tour, the ECB cited concerns over the players’ mental and physical health. Interestingly, the ECB’s statement did not mention the security as grounds for cancellation, unlike the New Zealand Cricket Board.
‘damaged relationship’
many times The report quoted the British prime minister and senior Commonwealth Office ministers as saying the decision had “damaged relations between the UK and the Government of Pakistan”.
However, the report stated that the ECB was prepared to continue the tour but the Team England Player Partnership (TEPP) – a unit of the athletes’ association representing England’s centrally contracted players – intervened, which eventually led to the tour. was cancelled. .
to answer many times report, TEPP spokesperson told daily Mail, that “TEPP was not even asked about further tours”.
“The ECB never asked Team England player partnerships or teams, men and women whether the tour should go ahead or whether the players were ready to tour Pakistan,” the spokesperson said.
He said the ECB board had met last Sunday to discuss the tour of Pakistan.
“That afternoon we were informed that 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,” he underlined.
UK government’s decision
A day after the ECB announced the cancellation of the tour, British High Commissioner to Pakistan Christian Turner had released A video message stating that the commission did not advise against England Cricket’s tour of Pakistan on security grounds.
He emphasized that the decision to cancel the tour was taken by the ECB, which is “independent of the British government on the basis of concerns for the welfare of the players”.
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