ECB chairman Ian Watmore says sorry to Pakistan for cancellation of men’s and women’s white-ball tour

The England and Wales Cricket Board chairman, Ian Watmore, has apologised to the Pakistan Cricket Board for the cancellation of the men’s and women’s teams’ limited-overs tour to the country. A member of the Police Elite Force stands guard at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, after the New Zealand cricket team pulled out of a Pakistan cricket tour over security concerns, in Rawalpindi (Image Courtesy: (Reuters)HIGHLIGHTSECB chairman Ian Watmore apologises to Pakistan for cancellation of men’s and women’s tourI’m sorry to anyone who feels let down by our decision, particularly in Pakistan, says WatmoreThe men were scheduled to play 2 T20Is in lead up to T20 World CupIan Watmore, chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), has finally broken his silence over their decision to cancel the men’s and women’s white-ball tour to Pakistan.

Watmore has apologised to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and assured that the ECB would commit to a full tour comprising three Tests and five ODIs next winter.”I’m very sorry to anyone who feels hurt or let down by our decision, particularly in Pakistan. 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,” Watmore told the Daily Telegraph on Tuesday.Ian Watmore also admitted that the players were never consulted before the board made their decision not to travel to Pakistan.”The board took the decision based on its own judgments and it didn’t go out to consultation. Had we decided to go forward with the tour we’d have had to put the proposals to the players, but it didn’t reach that,” said Whatmore.“We’ve recommitted to a proper tour, a scheduled tour, of Pakistan next year and will get on with planning that. We will have longer to plan that trip.”“I don’t know if you read (US) President (Joe) Biden’s mind, but I didn’t know he was going to evacuate Afghanistan or that New Zealand would pull out of their tour while effectively warming up on the pitch,” added Whatmore.The tour, in October, would have been England’s first of any kind to Pakistan since 2005-06, and the first by the England women’s team. The men were scheduled to play two T20Is in the lead up to the T20 World Cup, both double-headers with the women, while the women were due to stay on for a three-match ODI series as well.Click here for our site’s complete coverage of the coronavirus pandemic.