Western bloc' has let Pakistan down, board chief says

Pakistan have been let down by the "Western bloc" and the back-to-back pullouts by New Zealand and England could have a "domino effect" for cricket in the South Asian country, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ramiz Raja said.

England on Monday cancelled their men's and women's teams tour of Pakistan next month citing "mental and physical well-being" of the players.

It followed New Zealand's abrupt abandonment of their tour minutes before the opening fixture in Rawalpindi on Friday following a security alert from their government.

"I am very disappointed by England's withdrawal but it was expected because this Western bloc gets united unfortunately and tries to back each other," Raja, who took over as PCB chief earlier this month, said in a video shared by the PCB.

"You can take any decision on the basis of security threat and perception.

"But there's a lesson for us. We go out of our way to accommodate and pamper these sides when they visit ... from now on, we'll tour only when it serves our interest."

The former Pakistan captain said there was a sense of anger in his country as New Zealand refused to share the exact threat, which necessitated a step that has far-reaching consequences for the hosts.

"It can have a domino effect. It can hit the tour by West Indies, and Australia are already reconsidering their tour next year," Raja said.

"England, Australia, New Zealand - they are part of one bloc. Who can we complain to? We thought they were our own but they haven't accepted us as theirs."

According to media reports, the PCB is facing a loss that could be anything between $15-25 million after the twin pullouts but Raja said he was determined to claim compensation from New Zealand Cricket.

Pakistan could have hosted Zimbabwe and a second-string Bangladesh team to fill the void but the PCB would not resort to such "desperation", he said.

Pakistan would have been treated better had PCB had more financial clout, the 59-year-old said.

"We have to improve and expand our cricket economy so that these countries remain interested in playing us," he said.

"They come to the Pakistan Super League where they don't get spooked or fatigued but collectively they have a different mindset together toward Pakistan."

With the Taliban sweeping to power in neighbouring Afghanistan, Pakistan will have to work extra hard to convince other teams to tour the country.

Shunned by all after the deadly 2009 attack on the Sri Lanka team bus in Lahore, Pakistan's "home" matches in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have been played without fan support and earned the PCB little in the way of revenue. Pakistan has no plans to again move home games offshore, says Khan.

Test cricket returned to the country when Sri Lanka toured in 2019 but PCB officials know their country will only be deemed safe when the likes of England and Australia agree to go there.

In recent times, teams touring Pakistan were accorded the kind of security usually reserved for visiting heads of state and their cricket establishment wonders what else they could have done.

"NZ just killed Pakistan cricket," tweeted former Test bowler Shoaib Akhtar, while angry fans demanded Pakistan boycott next month's Twenty20 World Cup match against New Zealand. - Reuters