Just days after New Zealand canceled their white-ball series against Pakistan citing security concerns, England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) also announced that both their men’s and women’s teams that were scheduled to tour Pakistan later this year will not travel to the country.
Former Pakistan pacer Waqar Younis was disappointed by the decision and termed his country as one of the safest places on earth He also invited the Australian cricket team to play in Pakistan.
“I live in Sydney, my family is in Sydney – it’s the safest place in the world and I can guarantee you this place is nothing less than that. Come visit us, we will make sure we will look after you. Our security is one of the best in the world. We’ll make sure nothing of that sort will occur. When a team comes it is a different ball game. They make sure the hospitality; the security is right up there,” Younis said to The Age, an Australian newspaper.
Ever since New Zealand called off the series, several former Pakistani cricketers have highlighted that Pakistan traveled to other countries in tough times.
Younis cited the example of Pakistan touring New Zealand in 2020 even with a 14-day hard quarantine.
“It was very tough with quarantine and we followed the protocols. We made sure cricket shouldn’t suffer. We went to NZ when the vaccines didn’t exist. That was one of the toughest tours I’ve attended – 14 days of quarantine was really painful,” Younis added.
Australia is scheduled to tour Pakistan in 2022.
