We want to bring back cricket to Pakistan, England will be in Karachi next year: British High Commissioner

New Zealand Cricket had abandoned their tour of Pakistan just a few hours before the start of the first ODI. A few days later even the ECB came forward and announced that it has withdrawn from the men’s and women’s tour to Pakistan in October. However, now the British High Commissioner has asserted that England will travel to Pakistan next year.

The British High Commissioner to Pakistan, Christian Turner, has said that the England cricket team will tour Pakistan next year. He also added that they aim to bring cricket back to Pakistan and that is the very reason the players will visit Karachi in an available window next year.

“We are looking forward to seeing the development of Karachi in near future. We want to bring back cricket to Pakistan. England cricket team will be in Karachi next year on an available window,” Turner said while addressing to World Maritime Day Seminar.

This was a decision made by the ECB: British High Commissioner

After England pulled out from the women’s and men’s tour, Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ramiz Raja had expressed his disappointment on the same. Several former Pakistan players and fans too had come forward to slam the ECB for cancelling the tour to Pakistan. The British High Commissioner had, however, clarified that the cancellation of the series was the independent decision of the ECB and that the British government did not advise anything on it.

“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,” Turner said in a video on his Twitter handle.

Former Pakistan seamer Wasim Akram had appealed to the fans and the on-lookers to support the Pakistan National team after New Zealand and England withdrew the series against them. “I am equally disappointed, equally down, and equally sad. But life has to go on,” Akram said in a video shared by Pakistan Cricket Board’s Twitter handle.