The England cricket team is coming to Pakistan next month to play two T20 International matches.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials were busy with the New Zealand team on Friday over the cancellation of the New Zealand team's tour, but reports said that Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief executive officer Wasim Khan was in touch with England and Cricket Board officials. The England and Wales Cricket Board has issued a statement saying it is in touch with its security team in Pakistan and will decide in 24 to 48 hours whether they should have a scheduled visit or no?
"Is a game being played against Pakistan?"
The reaction in cricket circles to the cancellation of the New Zealand cricket team's tour of Pakistan has its place, but it is also being seen as an issue beyond cricket.
Former Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Khalid Mahmood told BBC Urdu: "It's not just about cricket, it's directly related to the changes taking place in the region. Anti-Pakistan forces have mobilized since the US withdrew from Afghanistan and the Taliban. Since Pakistan is supporting the Taliban government, cricket has also been affected. It is possible that anti-Pakistan forces have somehow told the New Zealand Cricket Board that their team could be in danger in Pakistan.
Khalid Mehmood says that if the New Zealand Cricket Board or his government had information about security concerns, they should have brought it to the notice of the Pakistan Cricket Board and the government of Pakistan. What kind of security threats did they have?
Khalid Mahmood says that in the current situation, the loss is ours. The Pakistan Cricket Board and the government of Pakistan will have to be very active at the international level immediately and tell everyone that there is no threat to security in Pakistan.
Khalid Mehmood fears that if Pakistan does not control the situation, then the cricket of the Pakistani team may return to its neutral position, but the way anti-Pakistan forces are active could also disrupt the neutral venues. There may be some excuse.
