You Feel For The People Of Pakistan And The Players - Jos Buttler Expresses Sympathy After England Tour Cancellation

England white-ball vice-captain Jos Buttler has shown solidarity and sympathy for the people of Pakistan and the Pakistan national cricket team players as well after the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) decided to call off the England men’s and women’s teams tour to Pakistan.

The ECB in an official statement on their website expressed dismay for taking the decision to cancel the tour which would have seen England men’s team touring Pakistan for the first time since 2005 and the England women’s team visiting Pakistan for the very first time. The ECB cited that the region was highly unfavorable for travel and prioritized the mental and physical wellbeing of their players before anything else.

Buttler, 31, however, hoped that he gets to play cricket in Pakistan for the first time when England is scheduled to tour the Asian country in 2022.

Buttler said: “You feel for the people of Pakistan and the players who want to welcome teams back and have cricket in their home country. I’ve spoken to a few of the guys in the Pakistan Super League who have thoroughly enjoyed playing there and it is unfortunate this time that it is not quite right and the board made their decision.

I do hope that the tour that is due to go ahead in 2022 is one that gets England back playing in Pakistan and I am able to play cricket there for the first time in my career.”

Also Read: Jos Buttler Insists England Can Win T20 World Cup 2021 Despite Missing Ben Stokes And Jofra Archer

What Is The Guarantee Of England Coming To Pakistan In 2022: Ramiz Raja Asked ECB Chairman Ian Watmore

The relations between the two cricketing boards are at their lowest and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) feels betrayed by ECB’s decision to call off the tour, despite Pakistan touring England to restart cricket amidst the COVID-19 pandemic last year, when there were no vaccines available as well.

PCB chairman Ramiz Raja confirmed that they will be preparing a contingency plan for alternative opposition because they have no faith that England will fulfill their commitments.

“I said 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,” PCB chief Raja revealed after a conversation with ECB chairman Ian Watmore.

Also Read: Pakistan Authorities Were Brilliant, They Kept Us Safe – Tom Latham Disappointed At Pakistan Tour Being Called Off