England cancels cricket tours of Pakistan over security concerns

Men’s and women’s tours cancelled just three days after New Zealand abandoned tour over security fears.

England’s cricketers will not travel for matches in Pakistan next month because of security concerns.

The decision, taken by the England and Wales Cricket Board on Monday, came three days after New Zealand Cricket abandoned its men’s team’s limited-overs tour of Pakistan following a government alert that warned of a possible attack outside Rawalpindi Stadium.

“We know there are increasing concerns about travelling to the region,” the ECB said in a statement, adding “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.”