“It’s obviously not great,” Mark Wood worried ahead of Pakistan Test tour after attack on ex-PM Imran Khan

England are due to tour Pakistan for three Tests in December.

England pacer Mark Wood on Saturday (November 5) expressed his concerns over touring Pakistan for the upcoming three-Test series after an attack on former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan.

However, Wood has his trust on the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to assess any security issues.

Former skipper Imran, who was ousted as prime minister in April, was shot in the shin on Thursday (November 3) during a rally in Wazirabad.

Wood was part of the seven-match T20I series hosted by Pakistan in September and October. The 32-year-old also features in the England squad that will play Tests in Rawalpindi, Multan and Karachi in December.

“It’s obviously not great is it,” Wood told reporters. “First of all he’s an ex-cricketer, so it’s close to home for us. It’s obviously hugely sad news to hear that as a group.

“From the security we had (on the T20 tour) I can only mention what we came across and it was fantastic. We were looked after really well but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t worried by that because you’re going back there when there’s been trouble.

“… it’ll be for people above me to decide whatever happens. But obviously it’s worrying when you’re going back there as a cricketer and there’s unrest in the country. It’s for their country to deal with, not us. We trust our security guys that tell us what to do.”

In September last year, England had cancelled their scheduled white-ball tour to Pakistan, citing security concerns.

International teams have largely refused to travel Pakistan ever since the terrorist attack on Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore in 2009.

While things have improved in the last few years as teams like South Africa, Australia, and England have toured the country, there is still a lot of work to do before Pakistan can think of hosting big teams regularly.

(With Reuters inputs)

 
 

By Salman Anjum - 06 Nov, 2022

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