ISLAMABAD: Cricketing officials, former and current players and fans have come out to express dismay after England announced it would not be coming to Pakistan for games scheduled for October, though many also took to social media to voice renewed faith that the Pakistan team would succeed in the upcoming T20 World Cup.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said on Monday it had “reluctantly” decided to withdraw its men and women teams from coming to Pakistan. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ramiz Raja reacted by saying he was dismayed by England “failing” a member of the cricket fraternity.
The news came just days after New Zealand Cricket said it was abandoning its series with Pakistan following a “security alert” by its government.
“Survive we will, in sha Allah,” the PCB chairman wrote on Twitter. “A wake-up call for Pakistan team to become the best team in the world for teams to line up to play them without making excuses.”
Disappointed with England, pulling out of their commitment & failing a member of their Cricket fraternity when it needed it most. Survive we will inshallah. A wake up call for Pak team to become the best team in the world for teams to line up to play them without making excuses.
— Ramiz Raja (@iramizraja) September 20, 2021
Pakistani sports journalist Zainab Abbas said while the turn of events was extremely frustrating for all Pakistani fans, they should “utilize the opportunity to focus on playing the National T20 competitively and get some confidence before the World Cup.”
“This too shall pass,” she tweeted.
It’s extremely frustrating for all the Pakistani fans to see the inevitable happening with Eng cancelling their tour, but Pak should utilise the opportunity to focus on playing the National T20 competitively & get some confidence before the World Cup. This too shall pass.
— zainab abbas (@ZAbbasOfficial) September 20, 2021
“It’s time to win the World Cup, it’s time to have Pakistan’s biggest ever PSL [domestic super league] season at home, it’s time to react,” said Pakistani cricketer Mohammad Amir. “IT’S TIME TO ROAR.”
It's time to win the World Cup,it's time to have Pakistan's biggest ever PSL season at home, its time to react!
ITS TIME TO ROAR.#PakistanZindabad— Mohammad Amir (@iamamirofficial) September 20, 2021
"So England also refuses. Its ok guys, see you all at the T20 World Cup. Specially @BLACKCAPS," former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar said.
So England also refuses.
Its ok guys, see you all at the T20 World Cup. Specially @BLACKCAPS.
Ab painja laganay ka time aa gaya hai. Chorna nahi hai ab @babarazam .Full video: https://t.co/zUwpaHDvzb pic.twitter.com/PxMb1Bt5bb
— Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) September 20, 2021
Officials and players also took to Twitter to comment on the need for all cricketing nations to get a level-playing field. South African cricketer Robin John Peterson said he felt deeply for the PCB, adding that new alliances would have to be formed if the game was to be "equitable and sustainable for all."
Feel deeply for @TheRealPCB In our prayers and thoughts - somehow one feels new alliances will have to be formed if the game is to be equitable and sustainable for all
— Robin John Peterson (@robbie13flair) September 20, 2021
"It's a sad day for world cricket with England withdrawing from the tour of Pakistan. English concerns may be justified but the track record of Pakistan doesn't warrant these spate of developments," said Roshan Abeysinghe, a commentator from Sri Lanka. "From a world cricket point of view every nation deserves their share. Pakistan too," he added.
It's a sad day for world cricket with England withdrawing from the tour of Pakistan. English concerns may be justified but the track record of Pakistan doesn't warrant these spate of developments. From a world cricket point of view every nation deserve their share. Pakistan too.
— Roshan Abeysinghe (@RoshanCricket) September 20, 2021
"You cannot claim to truly love cricket while ignoring these injustices towards Pakistan," sports journalist Roha Nadeem said. "You might love your team or a league or a player, but you certainly do not love the sport. Because if you did, this would hurt you too."
You cannot claim to truly love cricket while ignoring these injustices towards Pakistan. You might love your team or a league or a player, but you certainly do not love the sport. Because if you did, this would hurt you too.
— Roha Nadeem (@RohaNadym) September 20, 2021
"Pakistan players have done enough, they have stood by all decisions for the betterment of Pakistan cricket," said Rehanul Haq, the general manager of the Pakistan Super League franchise Islamabad United. "Time to back them and not add any pressure on them."
So the mental & physical well-being of Pak players is not important? Players who stayed on despite a Covid outbreak in your team.
Pak players have done enough, they have stood by all decisions for the betterment of Pak cricket. Time to back them & not add any pressure on them. pic.twitter.com/ZS6zebOOz8
— Rehan Ulhaq (@Rehan_ulhaq) September 20, 2021
Sports journalist Faizan Lakhani said Pakistan toured England in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic, not once but twice. "It toured New Zealand in most difficult and challenging conditions, all to support global cricket," he tweeted. "Both have let down Pakistan. This is sad. Pakistan’s cricket fraternity has every right to feel betrayed."
Pakistan toured England in middle of pandemic, not once but twice. It toured New Zealand in most difficult and challenging conditions, all to support global cricket. Both have let down Pakistan. This is sad. Pakistan’s cricket fraternity has every right to feel betrayed.
— Faizan Lakhani (@faizanlakhani) September 20, 2021
Popular Pakistani cricket commentary website Change of Pace tweeted: "Pakistan cricket will not forget.”
— Change of Pace (@ChangeofPace414) September 20, 2021