All one bloc Pakistan take swipe at Australia after England shelve tour

By Andrew WuUpdated September 21, 2021 â€" 11.48amfirst published at 8.30am

Cricket Australia says it still intends to tour Pakistan next year despite being caught in the middle of a growing diplomatic row in the international game after England became the latest nation to pull out of a series in that country.

Already angry after New Zealand sensationally withdrew from a white-ball tour on Friday, the Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ramiz Raja lashed out at what he perceives to be the sport’s “western bloc” turning their back on his country in their time of need.

A policeman stands guard outside the Pindi Cricket Stadium following the cancellation of New Zealand’s first one-day match in Rawalpindi last week.Credit:AP

He fears Pakistan will have more matches scrapped next year, with Australia’s all-format tour facing an uncertain future.

CA, which will meet with the PCB in the coming weeks to discuss the series, will take security advice in the coming months and though it could not offer any guarantees on Tuesday the series would go ahead, there were no plans at this stage not to proceed.

Australia’s standing in the global cricket community took a hit last year when it refused to play a Test series in South Africa, citing health concerns with COVID-19, though they did send men’s teams, albeit severely depleted, on white-ball tours to New Zealand, the Caribbean and Bangladesh.

Australia last played in Pakistan in 1998 in a series remembered for Mark Taylor’s unbeaten 334.

The PCB feels it has been let down by New Zealand and England, having played series in those nations during the pandemic only for the favour not to be returned.

The Kiwis left abruptly after a security threat that prompted Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to get involved, while England said they withdrew their men’s and women’s teams due to the security concerns in the region on top of the mental and physical demands of bubble life for players.

“I am severely disappointed in England’s withdrawal, but it was expected because this western bloc gets united unfortunately and tries to back each other,” Ramiz said in a PCB video release translated to English.

“So you can take any decision on the basis of security threat and perception. There was a sense of anger because first New Zealand got away without sharing information about the threat they were facing.

Former Test firebrand Shoaib Akhtar was among those voicing their disapproval after New Zealand and England both canned tours of the south Asian nation.Credit:PA

“Now, this [England] was expected, but this is a lesson for us because we go out of our way to accommodate and pamper these sides when they visit. And when we go there, we undergo strict quarantines, and we tolerate their admonishments, but there is a lesson in this. That is, that from now on, we will only go as far as is in our interest.

“Our interest is that cricket will not stop in our country and if the cricket fraternity will not take care of each other, then there’s no point to it. New Zealand, then England, now we have a West Indies series that can also be hit, and Australia who is already reconsidering.

“This - England, Australia, New Zealand - is all one bloc. Who can we complain to? We thought they were our own but they haven’t accepted us as theirs.”

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 well-being of our players and support staff.”

“We know there are increasing concerns about travelling to the region,” the ECB said, “and believe that going ahead will add further pressure to a playing group who have already coped with a long period of operating in restricted COVID environments.”

Within minutes, PCB chairman Ramiz reacted by saying on Twitter: “Disappointed with England, pulling out of their commitment & failing a member of their Cricket fraternity when it needed it most. Survive we will inshallah.”

Pakistan was a no-go zone for international cricket teams for a decade after terrorists attacked the Sri Lanka team bus in Lahore in 2009. The ambush killed seven people and injured several Sri Lankan cricketers.

International teams resumed touring Pakistan in 2019.

In recent times, teams touring Pakistan were accorded the kind of security usually reserved for visiting heads of state and their cricket establishment wonders what else they could have done.

“NZ just killed Pakistan cricket,” tweeted former Test bowler Shoaib Akhtar, while angry fans demanded Pakistan boycott next month’s Twenty20 World Cup match against New Zealand.

The PCB has ruled out that prospect but is infuriated at New Zealand’s refusal to share the exact nature of the threat that derailed the tour.

“It sets a very dangerous precedent if countries can unilaterally just abandon tours. Then it does affect relationships. Where does it leave us as a sport?“chief executive Wasim Khan said.

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