Atherton said England's withdrawal from Pakistan tour worse than Manchester Test cancellation.
Former England captain and commentator Michael Atherton lashed out at the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for calling off the men’s and women’s tour of Pakistan citing players’ mental and physical welfare amidst concerns of traveling to the country.
The ECB cited bio-bubble fatigue, physical and mental well-being of their players as the reasons behind their decision to cancel the Pakistan tour, but Atherton wasn’t convinced with the clarification.
He further questioned how ECB is allowing a number of 2021 T20 World Cup-bound players to play in the ongoing second phase of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2021) in the UAE, saying England’s withdrawal from the Pakistan tour is worse than BCCI's cancellation of the 5th Test in Manchester.
Atherton wrote in his column for The Times: “Citing player welfare is strange when the ECB has essentially washed its hands of its players’ travel and cricketing commitments for three months of the year so that they can play in the Indian Premier League.”
Questioning ECB’s decision, he said: “If, as an employer, it is so wary of bubble and cricket fatigue, surely it should take more interest in the players’ availability for the IPL? Now, of course, those who are playing in the tournament will be available for the knockout stages. It suits India and England, but not Pakistan, who have no direct stake, their players being barred still from the competition.”
The Englishman added, “This decision is worse than England’s withdrawal from South Africa last winter and India’s cancellation of the Manchester Test this month. While both those actions were hard to justify, they were at least understandable given COVID had come into close proximity to both teams.”
Atherton also said he understands that the “sense of anger and betrayal in Pakistan is real and understandable”, saying England should have shown gratitude for their magnanimity last year when they toured UK amidst a raging COVID-19 pandemic.
He further wrote, “English cricket, the governing body, and players, had a chance to do the right thing this week. They had a chance to repay a debt, uphold their honor, and side with a cricketing nation that has undergone challenges others cannot even begin to contemplate. Instead, citing a mealy-mouthed statement, they did the wrong thing.”
Atherton said of the anger shown by the new PCB chairman Ramiz Raja, “They don’t expect England to travel, despite the commitment, and have lost any trust and faith in them. It is hard to blame them.”
The former England captain further mentioned that Pakistan’s worst fears were always going to come true as “low expectations of England’s responses were duly met” after New Zealand called off their tour and he doesn’t think Australia’s decision to tour Pakistan won’t be any different next year.
Atherton noted, “Australia’s reputation for doing the right thing is as bad as England’s, so it would be a surprise if they front up in February. Pakistan will be facing a financial hammer blow.”
However, he has admitted that a lot of players are suffering from bubble fatigue in the COVID-era, but still, the ECB could have picked a team to tour Pakistan.
Atherton explained, “Player welfare is an important issue, especially so with Covid, and the implication is that the wariness of traveling to Pakistan after New Zealand’s withdrawal would exacerbate those concerns. The players were spooked. Player welfare in this regard does not wash: while many players have spent long periods in Covid-restricted environments, there are many within the English game who have not, and who could have been asked to tour if others were unavailable.”
He concluded, “It was incumbent upon the ECB to try to put out a team, any team, once the security arrangements were deemed satisfactory. When a Covid outbreak ruled out England’s one-day squad in July, the ECB was happy to play Pakistan with a second/third team. Why not now? ”
(With PTI Inputs)