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'England players left in the dark by ECB about cancellation of Pakistan tour'

'England players left in the dark by ECB about cancellation of Pakistan tour'
September 24, 2021 Web Desk

LONDON (Web Desk) – The England cricketers’ union has refuted claims that their players were behind the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) pulling out of next month’s Pakistan tour, insisting they were not even asked if they would travel.

Team England Player Partnership (TEPP) say they were left in the dark by the ECB following New Zealand’s decision to leave Pakistan last Friday after a security alert minutes before their opening match in Rawalpindi.

It was reported that an intervention by the TEPP stopped the tour going ahead. The TEPP spokesperson in a strong rebuttal said: "At no stage has the ECB ever asked Team England Player Partnership or the teams, men and women, whether the tour should go ahead or whether players were prepared to tour Pakistan. At no stage has Team England Player Partnership informed the ECB that the players would not be touring.

"The ECB board met last Sunday to debate the tour to Pakistan. That afternoon we were informed the tour had been cancelled. Team England Player Partnership was not asked for our input and we were not involved in the decision to cancel the tour."

British High Commissioner Christian Turner who also denied of passing any official instructions against the tour of Pakistan.

Turner said: “This was a decision made by the ECB, which is independent of the British government, based on concerns for player welfare. The British High Commission supported the tour, did not advise against it on security grounds, and our travel advice for Pakistan has not changed. I have been a champion of international cricket’s return to Pakistan and will redouble my efforts in advance of England’s Autumn 2022 tour.”