LONDON: England cricket chiefs on Monday withdrew their menâs and womenâs teams from next monthâs series in Pakistan citing âincreasing concerns about travelling to the regionâ.
The historic trip, which would have been the first ever by an England womenâs team and the first by their male counterparts since 2005, was in serious doubt from the moment New Zealand pulled out of their own series in Pakistan on Friday over security concerns.
Rawalpindi was due to host menâs and womenâs Twenty20 double-headers on Oct 13 and 14 as Englandâs men prepare for next monthâs T20 World Cup.
Heather Knightâs women’s team were then due to play one-day internationals on Oct 17, 19 and 21.
âThe ECB (England and Wales Cricket Board) board convened this weekend to discuss these extra England womenâs and menâs games in Pakistan and we can confirm that the board has reluctantly decided to withdraw both teams from the October trip,â the ECB said in a statement.
âThe mental and physical well-being of our players and support staff remains our highest priority and this is even more critical given the times we are currently living in.
âWe know there are increasing concerns about travelling to the region and believe that going ahead will add further pressure to a playing group who have already coped with a long period of operating in restricted Covid environments.â â AFP
