England gamers out there for IPL however not for Pakistan tour, asks Michael Atherton

Former captain Michael Atherton says it was unusual that England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) known as off the Pakistan tour, citing gamers’ welfare however allowed them a three-month window to play the IPL.
In a scathing evaluation of ECB’s choice, Atherton stated it was worse than India’s current withdrawal from the Manchester Test.
There are questions in England cricket fraternity on how just a few England gamers, who would have needed to play the brief white-ball collection in Pakistan, can now play for his or her IPL franchises within the play-offs if required.
“Citing player welfare is strange when the ECB has essentially washed its hands of its players’ travel and cricketing commitments for three months of the year so that they can play in the Indian Premier League,” Atherton wrote in his column for ‘The Times’.
“If, as an employer, it is so wary of bubble and cricket fatigue, surely it should take more interest in the players’ availability for the IPL?,” he was blunt in questioning the ECB choice.
“Now, of course, those who are playing in the tournament will be available for the knockout stages. It suits India and England, but not Pakistan, who have no direct stake, their players being barred still from the competition.”
Atherton stated it was obscure the reasoning behind the choice.
“This decision is worse than England’s withdrawal from South Africa last winter and India’s cancellation of the Manchester Test this month. While both those actions were hard to justify, they were at least understandable given Covid had come into close proximity to both teams.”
Atherton stated he understands that the “sense of anger and betrayal in Pakistan is real and understandable,” after England pulled out from their away collection with none tangible purpose.
England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) cited issues from gamers fairly than safety points, which was the rationale for New Zealand to tug their crew out of the tour after being within the nation for greater than per week.
Atherton in his column made it clear that each directors and gamers have been flawed in promoting a dummy to Pakistan when they need to have proven gratitude for his or her magnanimity final yr once they toured UK in midst of a raging pandemic.
“English cricket, the governing body and players, had a chance to do the right thing this week. They had a chance to repay a debt, uphold their honour and side with a cricketing nation that has undergone challenges others cannot even begin to contemplate. Instead, citing a mealy-mouthed statement, they did the wrong thing,” he wrote.
Atherton felt that Pakistan’s worst fears have been at all times going to return true as ‘low expectations of England’s responses have been duly met” as soon as New Zealand known as off their tour.
The former England captain additionally feels that Australia’s choice to tour Pakistan received’t be any totally different.
“Australia’s reputation for doing the right thing is as bad as England’s, so it would be a surprise if they front up in February. Pakistan will be facing a financial hammer blow,” he additional wrote.
Atherton noticed that whereas it was utterly comprehensible that a number of gamers are affected by bubble fatigue in COVID-19 instances, the ECB may nonetheless have picked a crew to tour Pakistan.
“Player welfare is a vital challenge, particularly so with Covid, and the implication is that the wariness of travelling to Pakistan after New Zealand’s withdrawal would exacerbate these issues. The gamers have been spooked.
“Player welfare in this regard does not wash: while many players have spent long periods in Covid-restricted environments, there are many within the English game who have not, and who could have been asked to tour if others were unavailable.”
Atherton didn’t need to consider that ECB couldn’t discover 14 keen gamers
“It was incumbent upon the ECB to try to put out a team, any team, once the security arrangements were deemed satisfactory. When a Covid outbreak ruled out England’s one-day squad in July, the ECB was happy to play Pakistan with a second/third team. Why not now? ”
Atherton understands the anger of recent PCB chairman Ramiz Raja.
“They do not expect England to travel, despite the commitment, and have lost any trust and faith in them. It is hard to blame them.”