Former West Indies fast bowler Michael Holding called England’s decision to discontinue short trips to Pakistan “Western arrogance” on Tuesday. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) cancelled both the men’s and women’s white ball teams’ tours this month owing to worries about their “mental and physical well-being.” “I don’t agree with the ECB’s statement. There is no substance, “Holding’s illustrious career included 60 Tests and 102 one-day internationals.”Nobody wants to come forward and face up to anything because they know what they did was wrong. “So they put out a statement and hid behind a statement. It just reminds me of the rubbish they did with Black Lives Matter.
“I won’t go back into that because I’ve said enough about that. But what that signal sends to me, is the same Western arrogance.
“I will treat you how I feel like treating you, it doesn’t matter what you think, I’ll just do what I want.”
It would have been the first time an England women’s team had visited Pakistan since 2005, and the first time an England men’s team had visited since 2005.
New Zealand had also withdrawn from their own series in Pakistan, citing a security danger, prior to England’s announcement.
Despite the Kiwis’ hurried departure, the Pakistan Cricket Board is confidence in its security procedures and feels the country is safe to host international cricket.
The ECB admitted at the time of its withdrawal that the news will anger opponents who helped save England’s 2020 summer by travelling in restricted bubble environments during the coronavirus pandemic.
Holding, a respected television commentator since his retirement from the game in 1987 and author of ‘Why We Kneel, How We Rise,’ a sober account of racial discrimination, said, “Pakistan went to England before vaccines were available for six or seven weeks.”
“They stayed, they played their cricket, they honoured what England wanted them to honour, to save England’s butt, to put it mildly.
“Four days in Pakistan? I’m absolutely sure they would not have done that to India, because India is rich and powerful.”
