ECB chairman Ian Watmore to step down with immediate effect after controversial Pakistan tour cancellation

The ECB chairman Ian Watmore is set to step down from his post by mutual consent. He has taken the decision after being placed under major scrutiny for cancelling the tour to Pakistan. As per reports, Watmore will be leaving his position with immediate effect.

Watmore had replaced Colin Graves as chairman in September last year. His resignation now means that he served for a span of just over a year. England was scheduled to play white-ball series against Pakistan. However, the ECB announced that it has withdrawn from the men’s and women’s tours in October.

The board cited the physical and mental well-being of their players as the reason behind the same. This decision to abandon the tour to Pakistan is said to have built up pressure on Watmore.

Ian Watmore had previously apologized to Pakistan for cancelling the tour

“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. 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.

“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 President 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,” Watmore had said has reported by Mirror.

Earlier, New Zealand had traveled to Pakistan for the white ball series. However just a few hours before the start of the first ODI, the Black Caps abandoned their tour citing the reason for security threats. The PCB had, however, denied the existence of any such threats and had assured New Zealand of the same.