LONDON: Former England opening batter and now renowned commentator Mike Atherton has lambasted the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for the cancellation of the Pakistan tour.
On September 19, the ECB issued a statement where they cited the ‘players mental and physical state’ as the primary reason for not touring the country for two T20I matches in October.
In a column for The Time, Atherton slammed England cricket’s hierarchy, in particular chairman Ian Watmore.
“The board [ECB] assumes it can put out a feeble, mealy-mouthed statement and hide behind it for good, saying nothing more,” he wrote. “Pakistan’s cricketers, who spent two months in a biosecure bubble here last summer to help save the game from financial catastrophe, their administrators, who have done so much to get cricket back to that country, and supporters deserve better. The game in this country deserves better.
“Pulling out of a commitment to tour, especially to Pakistan given their recent history of playing cricket in exile, is a serious business and demands a serious response. The ECB wants the story to disappear but the only thing that has disappeared has been its chairman. Watmore has been silent for five days since the cancellation was announced — one day longer than the proposed tour to Pakistan was due to last. Why exactly was the tour called off? Cricket supporters in Pakistan and England deserve to know.”
Easy to say no to Pakistan: Khawaja
Australia’s left-handed batter Usman Khawaja becomes the most high-profile current international cricketer to highlight the double standards while dealing with Pakistan cricket.
The 34-year-old, who recently represented Islamabad United in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2021, while talking to ESPNCricinfo, stated that no other board would do a similar kind of thing to India because of financial reasons.
“I feel it’s very easy for players and organisations to say no to Pakistan, because it’s Pakistan,” said Khawaja. “I think the same thing would apply too if it were Bangladesh. But nobody would say no to India if they’re in the same situation. Money talks, we all know that, and that’s probably a big part of it. They keep proving time and time again through their tournaments that they’re a safe place to play cricket. I think there’s no reason why we shouldn’t go back.
“There’s a lot of security. Heavy, heavy security. I’ve heard nothing but reports about people feeling safe. Even talking to the guys during the PSL about what it’s like … they would say the same thing to me ‘like 10 years ago, maybe not, but now 100 per cent.”
Nazar wants ‘bank guarantee’ before future tours
Former all-rounder Mudassar Nazar also criticised the ECB for their decision and believes that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) should ask for a bank guarantee before touring any country in the future.
“We [Pakistan] toured a Covid-ridden England and helped ECB avoid major financial loss,” he said while talking to Cricket Pakistan. “The team was also made to stay in a third-class hotel but we went through all that just to help England cricket. Instead of helping us in our time of need, an ungrateful England backed out of Pakistan tour. Next time we should make sure that we have a bank guarantee before booking an England tour.
