British government did not advise ECB against Pakistan tour - High Commissioner

The decision to cancel the tour of Pakistan was taken by the ECB independently of the British government, U.K.'s High Commissioner to Pakistan has said.

Published : Sep 22, 2021 11:58 IST

England hasn't toured Pakistan since 2005. - GETTY IMAGES

The British government did not advise the England and Wales Cricket Board to cancel its men's and women's teams' tour of Pakistan on security grounds, the U.K.'s High Commissioner here has said, promising to "redouble" efforts to make the T20 series happen in 2022.

Christian Turner, the British High Commissioner to Pakistan, said the ECB decided on its own to cancel the T20 tour next month and that he shared the "deep sadness" of Pakistani fans.

"This was a decision made by the ECB, which is independent of the British government, based on concerns for player welfare," Turner said in a video on 

Twitter .

"The British High Commission supported the tour, did not advise against it on security grounds, and our travel advice for Pakistan has not changed." 

The ECB on Monday withdrew its men's and women's teams from the tour of Pakistan, citing increased concerns about travelling to the region. It also cited player fatigue ahead of the T20 World Cup in the UAE as one of the reasons for the decision.

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Turner said he intends to make sure England tours Pakistan in the second half of 2022.

"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.

 

"My thanks to all at the PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board) who have worked so hard in support of that. I hope that we'll soon hear the roar of full cricket stadiums again. In the end, cricket will be victorious." 

The tour, which would have been the first-ever by an England women's team and the first by men's team since 2005, was in doubt after New Zealand pulled out of its limited-overs series in Pakistan on Friday citing a security threat.

The England men's matches, which were intended to act as a warm-up for the T20 World Cup in the UAE, were scheduled to be played in Rawalpindi on October 13 and 14. England's women were also scheduled to play two T20I matches against Pakistan on the same dates as the men.