Already reeling from New Zealand's last-minute tour abandonment, Pakistan cricket suffered another massive jolt on Monday as England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) pulled out both its men's and women's teams from the tour of Pakistan. In recent times, Pakistan have been pulling out all the stops to get international teams back to the country to play bilateral series. And with the likes of Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka touring the country, it seemed things were starting to get back on track. But England and New Zealand withdrawing from their respective tours will be a body blow to the Pakistan Cricket Board.
While PCB's new chairman Ramiz Raza accused England of "failing a member of their Cricket fraternity when it needed it most", Pakistan cricketers and fans expressed their anger at the English board's decision on social media.
On Monday, 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".
Rawalpindi was due to host men's and women's T20 double-headers on October 13 and 14 as England's men prepare for next month's T20 World Cup.
England women's team were then due to play one-day internationals (ODIs) on October 17, 19 and 21, also in Rawalpindi.
"The ECB (England and Wales Cricket Board) board convened this weekend to discuss these extra England women's and men's games in Pakistan and we can confirm that the board has reluctantly decided to withdraw both teams from the October trip," the ECB said in a statement.
"The mental and physical well-being of our players and support staff remains our highest priority and this is even more critical given the times we are currently living in.
"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."