England have withdrawn their men's and women's teams from next month's tours of Pakistan, three days after the Blackcaps abandoned their tour over security concerns.
The England teams were each scheduled to play two Twenty20 international matches on October 14 and 15 at Rawalpindi, with the women due to stay on for a three-match one-day international series from October 17-21.
"The ECB board convened this weekend to discuss these extra England women's and men's games in Pakistan, and we can confirm that the board has reluctantly decided to withdraw both teams from the October trip.
"The mental and physical well-being of our players and support staff remains our highest priority, and this is even more critical, given the times we are currently living in.
"We know there are increasing concerns about travelling to the region 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."
The ECB adds the men's team touring under such conditions would not be ideal preparation for the Twenty20 World Cup that begins next month.
"We understand that this decision will be a significant disappointment to the PCB, who have worked tirelessly to host the return of international cricket in their country.
"We are sincerely sorry for the impact this will have on cricket in Pakistan and emphasise an ongoing commitment to our main touring plans there for 2022."
PCB chairman Ramiz Raja is disappointed with the ECB's decision, but adds that the Pakistan team would "survive".
"Disappointed with England, pulling out of their commitment and failing a member of their cricket fraternity when it needed it most," Raja tweets. "A wake-up call for Pakistan team to become the best team in the world for teams to line up to play them without making excuses."
The NZ men abruptly abandoned their tour, citing a security alert, in a massive blow to Pakistan's hopes of staging regular international cricket.
The tour was due to get underway with the first of three one-dayers at Rawalpindi on Friday, but the Blackcaps did not travel to the stadium.
NZ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern backed NZ Cricket's decision to end the tour.
International teams have largely refused to tour Pakistan, since an attack by Islamist militants on the Sri Lanka team bus in Lahore in 2009 that killed six policemen and two civilians.
New Zealand's decision to go home may extend that absence and Australia, who are scheduled to visit next February-March, also appear wary.
A Cricket Australia spokesperson says the organisation is monitoring the situation and would "talk with the relevant authorities once more information becomes known".
Reuters
