ISLAMABAD: England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) Chairman Ian Watmore has broken his silence on the cancellation of his side's tour of Pakistan earlier this month and apologized to the cricket-crazy South Asian nation, British media reported on Wednesday.
The ECB last week decided to withdraw its men and women teams from coming to Pakistan, just days after New Zealand Cricket said it was abandoning its series in the country following a “security alert” by its government.
The news came as a shock to Pakistan, which has been struggling to revive international cricket in the country, suspended in the aftermath of a 2009 attack on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore.
"I'm very sorry to anyone who feels hurt or let down by our decision, particularly in Pakistan," Watmore said in his first public comments since the ECB pulled out of the two Twenty20 matches scheduled to take place in Rawalpindi in October.
"The decision the board made was an extremely difficult one and the board made it with the primary consideration being the welfare and mental health of our players and staff."
Admitting the ECB made the call without consulting players, Watmore reiterated that it was taken to protect player mental well-being at the start of a busy winter.
“I won’t go into details, but we received advice on security and player welfare and took the decision we made,” he said. “We had to make it quickly because of the short term to the World Cup and the New Zealand exodus from Pakistan. They were all factors, but the primary consideration was the welfare of the players.”
The ECB decision to pull out was met with anger by cricket fans in Pakistan. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ramiz Raja said at the time he was dismayed by England “failing” a member of the cricket fraternity.
Watmore, however, insisted that England would commit to a full tour comprising three Tests and five one-day internationals in Pakistan next winter.
“We will have longer to plan for 2022 and this trip was impacted by events very close to the time frame,” he said. “We need to rebuild our relationship with Pakistan and will refocus on going there in 2022. This wasn’t the right time. Obviously, we’re extremely grateful to Pakistan coming here last year and we will do everything we can to deliver the scheduled tour next year.”
Watmore's announcement was welcomed by Pakistani Information Minister Chaudhry Fawad Hussain who thanked cricket stars, the diplomatic community, media and cricket lovers around the world for their support for Pakistan cricket.
"Yet again Pakistan has emerged as strong and resilient nation," Hussain said in a Twitter post.
