We will not only survive but thrive as well’: Babar Azam reacts after England pull out of their Pakistan tour
The recent development of events for Pakistan has led the cricketing world to believe that barely any international cricket team is confident enough to schedule a full-fledged tour of the country any time soon.
With heavyweights of the game, New Zeland Cricket (NZC) earlier and now the England cricket team, having decided to pull out both of their men’s and women’s teams from touring Pakistan. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) suffered back-to-back massive jolts as the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) declined their participation in a bilateral series with Babar Azam & Co. that was scheduled to take place in October.
It certainly didn’t look like a regular occurrence for cricket in the country as recent tours of Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe put the Asian giants back on the international map for teams to plan future bilateral series with them.
Alas! the PCB’s joy was short-lived because yet again, just like in past times, the looming shadows of security concerns have gripped the cricketing nation and this time, during newly-appointed PCB chairman — Ramiz Raja’s tenure.
As expected, the aftermath of England’s cancellation of their Pakistan tour is seeing a multi-pronged reaction from the length and breadth of the cricketing landscape of the country.
While PCB boss Ramiz Raja accused England of “failing a member of their cricket fraternity when it needed it most”, the Pakistan skipper, Babar Azam expressed his disappointment at the ECB’s decision that followed suit after the Blackcaps abruptly abandoned their limited-overs series with Azam and Co. a few days ago.
Babar Azam took to his official Twitter handle and vented out his frustration as he said:
“Disappointed, yet again. We have always tried to accommodate the interests of the game but others simply don’t. We have come a long way in our cricketing journey and it will only get better with time. We will not only survive but thrive as well. In shaa’Allah.” tweeted Azam.
Disappointed, yet again. We have always tried to accommodate the interests of the game but others simply don't. We have come a long way in our cricketing journey and it will only get better with time. We will not only survive but thrive as well. In shaa'Allah. 🇵🇰❤️🏏
— Babar Azam (@babarazam258) September 21, 2021
Interestingly, Ramiz Raja also urged the Pakistan cricket team to pull up their socks and prove to the world that they deserve international cricket of the highest class just like any other ICC member nation.
Disappointed with England, pulling out of their commitment & failing a member of their Cricket fraternity when it needed it most. Survive we will inshallah. A wake up call for Pak team to become the best team in the world for teams to line up to play them without making excuses.
— Ramiz Raja (@iramizraja) September 20, 2021
On Monday (September 20) the ECB announced that it was withdrawing both the men’s and women’s teams from next month’s white-ball series in Pakistan citing “increasing concerns about travelling to the region”.
“We 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.” the ECB added in their final statement.
Rawalpindi — the same venue that was set to host the Kiwis after 18 years, was supposed to host men’s and women’s T20I double-headers on October 13 and 14 as England prepares for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 starting in October, followed by the England women’s team who were due to play 3-ODIs on October 17, 19, and 21 at the Pindi club ground too. (Timesnow)