'Our intention is to fulfill the touring obligations' - Cricket West Indies CEO gives assurance to PCB regarding upcoming tour

In the last few days, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has gone looking for some friends after the cancellation of the New Zealand and England tours to their country. Not only has it raised concerns about the fact that cricket was finally coming to the country after a decade-long drought, but put the immediate future of cricket in Pakistan in danger. 

The financial losses which the PCB has suffered will only increase with time if something is not done about the current state. Even though Australia’s tour to Pakistan hangs in balance at this moment, the words from Cricket West Indies (CWI) should be encouraging for PCB and the newly appointed chairman Ramiz Raja. 

“At this stage, our intention is to fulfill our touring obligations. We’ve got a pretty clear process that we go through with independent security experts, as we did in 2018,” CWI Chief Executive Officer Johnny Grave was quoted as saying by Trinidad Newsday on Thursday. Since international cricket has resumed in Pakistan, West Indies have been among the countries who have toured them and played matches in the country. 

West Indies had travelled to Pakistan in 2018 as well

In 2018, under Jason Mohammed, the West Indies team played a T20I series in Karachi. Even though there were a few players from the West Indies team who refused to get on the plane to Pakistan, the tour went on with whoever was available. 

“We will follow that process, the board of directors, WIPA (West Indies Players’ Association), as well as the players themselves will review the plans and our reports, including the independent security advice. Most of our women’s and men’s players have played in Pakistan in the last few years,” Grave said. 

The West Indies will play three T20Is and three ODIs in Pakistan this time around. Both the men’s and women’s teams will go to Pakistan for their respective series. Grave further revealed that he had a word with PCB CEO Wasim Khan to speak about the recent developments due to cancellation of tours while also informing about a meeting which will happen later this week. It seems CWI will be taking a call soon, but a lot will depend on their independent security check.