ISLAMABAD: A day after England withdrew both the men’s and women’s teams from next month’s tour of Pakistan, the top British diplomat in Pakistan Christian Turner asserted that the British High Commission did not advise against England cricket’s tour of Pakistan next month.
In a video message, British High Commissioner Christian Turner said the news had saddened him but the decision was made by ECB, which is independent of British government.
Aakhir main jeet cricket kee hogee #PakVsEng@iramizraja @TheRealPCB pic.twitter.com/JNgOMcuD7Q
— Christian Turner (@CTurnerFCDO) September 21, 2021
“I am sad, this was a decision made by the ECB which is independent of British government based on concerns for players’ welfare. The BHC supported the tour and did not advice against it on security grounds and our travel advice for Pakistan has not changed,” Turner added.
Turner said he shared the “deep sadness” of cricket fans over England’s decision to cancel the tour. “I have been a champion of international cricket’s return to Pakistan and will redouble my efforts in advance of England’s Autumn 2022 tour,” he added.
“I hope that we will soon hear the roar of full cricket stadiums again,” the envoy stated, adding in Urdu, “In the end, cricket will be victorious.”
On Monday, English cricket officials provoked an angry response from Pakistan after withdrawing their men’s and women’s teams from next month’s limited-over trip to the country, citing increasing concerns about travelling to the region.
The ECB’s decision came three days after New Zealand Cricket abandoned its men’s team’s tour of Pakistan following a government alert that warned of a possible attack outside Rawalpindi Stadium.
The ECB didn’t detail any specific security issues in a statement released after a board meeting over the weekend, instead highlighting the “mental and physical wellbeing of our players and support staff”.
The England teams were each scheduled to play two Twenty20 international matches on October 13 and 14 in Rawalpindi, with the women’s side due to stay on for a three-match One-day International series from Oct 17-21.
