British High Commissioner Christian Turner saddened on cancellation of England team’s tour

Islamabad: British High Commissioner to Pakistan Christian Turner on Tuesday said the cancellation of England cricket team’s tour to Pakistan saddened him but the decision was made by ECB, which is independent of the British government.

“I am sad, this was a decision made by the ECB which is independent of British government based on concerns for players’ welfare. The British High Commission supported the tour and did not advice against it on security grounds and our travel advice for Pakistan has not changed,” he said in a video message shared on his official Twitter handle.

Turner said he has been a champion of international cricket’s return to Pakistan and vowed to redouble his efforts in advance of England’s Autumn 2022 tour. “My thanks to all at the PCB, who have worked so hard in support of that. I hope that we’ll soon hear the roar of full cricket stadiums again. “In the end cricket will be victorious.”

England withdrew both the men’s and women’s teams from next month’s tour of Pakistan on Monday, three days after New Zealand abandoned their tour to the country amid ‘security fears’.