International Cricket Teams Call Off Pakistan Tour: Due to Security Issues

After the pandemic crises, Pakistan was set to open an international cricket tour within the country and proper maintenance of the COVID-19 instructions to avoid the increase in the rate of the virus spread among people.

However, New Zealand and England had called off their tour to Pakistan by stating the security concern towards their team, which further disappointed the Pakistan cricket on their withdrawal.

The England cricket men and women teams were scheduled to play two Twenty-Twenty international matches on 13th and 14th of October 2021 in Rawalpindi and three-match one-day international series for women from 17th to 21st October 2021.

But on 20th September, the England cricket board tweeted their discussion to withdraw from the men and women’s matches from the October trip due to security concerns.  

Withdrawal of England and New Zealand Cricket team from Pakistan Tour 

On 20th September 2021, the England Cricket Board (ECB) had officially tweeted their reluctant decision on the October trip of Pakistan for the 20-20 matches of both men and women teams.

It confirmed withdrawal from matches to ensure the safety of their players during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic by stating that their highest priority is to ensure their players’ mental and physical well-being.

Moreover, the England cricket board also adds up to the statement that the cricket board is mainly concern about the travelling safety of the players to the region due to the coronavirus crisis.

The England cricket board also stated their concern towards the complex operating system and restriction on the cricket team due to the COVID environments. Thus, they justify their decision of withdrawal based on security concerns.

The England cricket board also apologises for their sudden withdrawal, which would further disappoint the PCB as they have worked efficiently to return the international cricket to the country.  

Apart from this, the New Zealand cricket team also called off their cricket tour in Pakistan by stating their concern towards the security, which had adequately blown up the hopes of the South Asian country towards international cricket.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern also supported the decision of the New Zealand cricket team to call off the tour as the security of the team is not efficiently ensured by the country itself. 

Most of the International have refused to tour Pakistan for the cricket matches due to the Islamist militant’s attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore in 2009, which has highly threatened the other teams and raised great concern towards the security aspect of the players.  

Disappointment of the Pakistan Cricket Board 

After the sudden withdrawal of both the England and New Zealand cricket team from the cricket tourn in Pakistan, the Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Ramiz Raja had represented his disappointment with the international cricket team’s decision as the Pakistan cricket players have worked tirelessly for the matches and were efficiently looking forward to the return of the international matches in their country.

On 20th September 2021, Ramiz Raja had tweeted his statement of disappointment on the England cricket board decided to pull out their commitment which had adequately made the Pakistan cricket team feel abandoned.

Further, he added that the PCB would survive and take this incident as a wake-up call for the Pakistan team to overcome their barrier and become the best team shortly.