TRUST ISSUES

Furious Raja fears England will let down Pakistan again

Pakistan fear England will pull out of their 2022-23 tour following their controversial decision to cancel next month’s visit — with PCB chairman Ramiz Raja accusing the ECB of ‘using and binning’ the game in his country.

On the day Britain’s high commissioner to Pakistan said he supported this year’s tour and had not advised against it on security grounds, Raja warned his board would put in place a ‘back-up plan’ ahead of next year because of a breakdown in trust between the two countries.

He said: ‘i said to (ECB chairman) ian Watmore: “What is the guarantee of England coming back and playing here in 2022?” Because a month before that tour, you can easily quote tiredness, players being spooked again, sick of living in a bubble, or a threat perception that will once again be not shared with us.

‘He clearly had no answer to that. so we’ll have a back-up plan for sure.’

With Pakistani cricket counting the cost of cancellations by both new Zealand and England, and accusing them of a shortsighted ‘western mentality’, Raja also ridiculed the fact some of England’s top players would now be available for the later stages of the iPL instead of fulfilling their two t20s in Rawalpindi.

‘it’s a fantastic dichotomy, isn’t it? Quoting fatigue and mental tension, players being spooked,’ he said. ‘Dubai is only an hour and a half away, but they’re happy to be caged in a bubble and carry on in that tournament. We feel slighted and humiliated. it’s the feeling of being used, then being binned.’

British high commissioner Christian turner did little to ease the pressure on the ECB, saying: ‘i share the deep sadness of cricket fans that England will not tour Pakistan in October.

‘the British High Commission supported the tour, did not advise against it on security grounds, and our travel advice for Pakistan has not changed.’