ECB chief apologises for cancelling Pakistan's tour

LONDON: After a prolonged silence, England Cricket Board (ECB) has finally apologised for cancelling Pakistan’s scheduled tour, earlier this month. 

England had to play two T20Is at the Pindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi on 13 and 14 October.

Chairman Ian Watmore in his first public comments since the ECB angered Pakistan by pulling out of two Twenty20 matches scheduled to take place in Rawalpindi next month, Watmore offered an apology for last week’s late withdrawal.

The ECB chief insisted England would commit to a full tour comprising three Tests and five one-day internationals next winter.

Sources earlier said that the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB)’s withdrawal from the men and women teams’ tour of Pakistan has made UK’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson and other senior officials unhappy.

Read more: FM QURESHI VOWS TO RAISE ENGLAND’S TOUR CANCELLATION ISSUE WITH UK COUNTERPART

Pakistan safe country: UK HC to Pakistan 

British High Commissioner to Pakistan Christian Turner termed Pakistan as a safe country saying that the England cricket team’s tour was not cancelled over security concerns.

Speaking exclusively during ARY NEWS programme, Off The Record, with Kashif Abbasi, the British High Commissioner dispelled an impression that the tour from the England team was cancelled over security concerns.

“It is an unfortunate day for all of us,” he said while adding that Pakistan is a safe country and he considers himself safe there.