'We're sacrificing a lot, so it's strange for us' - Pakistan's Mohammad Abbas 'hurt' after ECB cancels Pakistan tour

Pakistan pacer Mohammad Abbas expressed his disappointment at the decisions of England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to opt out of their men’s and women’s tour in October. Currently playing for English county side Hampshire, Abbas stated that he is “hurt” by the strange decision of the ECB, given the fact that Pakistan decided to tour them even during the peak of Covid-19 in the UK last year, when even the vaccines were yet to roll out.

ECB cited the mental health and bubble fatigue as the reason behind their cancellation, however, given their decision came only three days after New Zealand pulled out of their Pakistan tour amid security concerns, it is widely speculated that ECB’s decision is just an effect of New Zealand’s pull out.

“Obviously when you give 100 percent, you need to get back the same things,” Abbas said said. “It hurts us.”

“We are sacrificing lots of things, so it’s strange for us, we are disappointed.”

PCB chairman Ramiz Raja was severely disappointed too and accused the ECB for “failing a member of the cricket community”, while also admitting that he felt “being used and binned”.

“It’s the feeling of being used and then binned. That’s the feeling I have right now. A little bit of hand-holding, a little bit of caring was needed after New Zealand pull out and we didn’t get that from England which is so frustrating,” Raja was quoted as telling reporters ahead of the start of Pakistan’s National T20 Cup.

“We’ve been going out of our way to meet the international demands, being such a responsible member of the cricketing fraternity, and in return, we get a response from ECB saying the players were spooked by New Zealand’s withdrawal. What does that mean?”

Following the New Zealand and England’s withdrawal, certain reports were suggestive of Pakistan deciding to boycott New Zealand in the upcoming T20 World Cup, although PCB CEO rubbished them, while Raja went on to back Pakistan to hand defeats to both the teams and avenge the treatment they received on the ground.