‘Time for ECB to show their appreciation through actions’ – Shahid Afridi wants England’s tour of Pakistan to go ahead

Former Pakistan cricketer Shahid Afridi felt that England shouldn’t have any second thoughts regarding their tour of Pakistan in October. Both the men’s and women’s teams are scheduled for bilateral series next month. Even as the men’s side is scheduled to play two T20Is on October 13 and 14, the women’s team will play two T20Is and three ODIs from October 13 to October 21.

Back in 2020, Pakistan toured England for a bilateral series when the world was grappling through the ungodly COVID-19 pandemic. Afridi reckoned that it’s time for the England and Wales Cricket Board to replicate something similar during the rough phases in Pakistan cricket.

On September 17, the New Zealand cricket team abandoned their tour of Pakistan due to ‘security concerns’ and the development has created a lot of chaos. Afridi, who last played international cricket in 2018, said that Pakistan is a safe place to play cricket.

Afridi took to Twitter and wrote, “It is time for ECB to show their appreciation of PCB through actions and not words. Despite the mind-boggling Blackcaps’ decision, Pakistan remains a safe place to tour. ECB should not forget our support for them last year in a very tough COVID-19 situation,”

Shahid Afridi’s tweet

It’s time for @ecb_cricket to show their appreciation of @therealpcb through actions and not words. Despite the mind boggling @blackcaps decision, Pakistan remains a safe place to tour. ECB shouldn't forget our support for them last year in a very tough Covid-19 situation.

— Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) September 18, 2021

Earlier, West Indies cricketer Daren Sammy also expressed his grief after the Black Caps didn’t take part in the ODI and T20I series in Pakistan. The veteran said that Pakistan is a ‘home away from home’ for him and hoped for the PCB to recover from the blow.

“I never once felt not safe; it’s a place I call home away from home. This is a big blow for all the work that has been done over the last few years. I really hope the PCB recovers from it. Pakistan have always been a safe place for me over the last five years to play,” Sammy said.

Ramiz Raja, the PCB chairman, was also gutted by the Kiwis’ abrupt decision of pulling out. On Saturday, September 18, the Black Caps’ cricketers returned to their home country on a chartered flight arranged by the PCB. Further developments on the series cancellation remain to be seen.