‘Highly unprofessional’: Celebs express disappointment over England’s cricket tour cancellation

Pakistani cricket fans were left heartbroken after England, following in the footsteps of New Zealand, announced that their team will be pulling out of the upcoming Pakistan tour. 

Prominent celebrities also took to Twitter to share their anger and disappointment over the cancellations, among them actors Adnan Siddiqui and Saba Qamar. England withdrew both the men’s and women’s teams from next month’s tour of Pakistan, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECP) announced on Monday, three days after New Zealand abandoned their tour of the country amid security concerns.

The England men and women’s teams were each scheduled to play two Twenty20 international matches on October 13 and 14 in Rawalpindi, with the women’s side due to stay on for a three-match one-day international series from October 17-21.

Siddiqui took to Twitter to ask people to rid themselves of their “colonial hangover”, writing, “Highly unprofessional behaviour by New Zealand and UK cricket teams. We don’t have to be subservient to them. Shun colonial hangover.”

Qamar also took to the app to send out a message of hope to cricket fans. The actor tweeted, “Extremely sad for the cricket fans in Pakistan. 100% behind the PCB. InshaAllah we will rise again.”

Cricketer Shoaib Malik took to Twitter to tell cricket fans not to lose heart over the cancellations, writing, “Sad news for Pakistan cricket, just stay strong. We will be back stronger, inshaAllah!”

Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board Ramiz Raja called out England’s cricket board for “failing” Pakistan. He tweeted, “Disappointed with England, pulling out of their commitment and failing a member of their cricket fraternity when it needed it most. Survive we will inshallah. A wake-up call for Pak team to become the best team in the world for teams to line up to play them without making excuses.”

Minister of Information and Broadcasting of Pakistan Fawad Chaudhry took to Twitter to express his anger and disappointment over the turn of events, blaming “international lobbies” for attempting to tarnish Pakistan’s image. He wrote, “The cancellation of New Zealand and England’s tours has cost PTV millions. We will speak to lawyers about legal action against the two cricket boards. A certain international lobby is at work against Pakistan, but we will never bow down. We shall rid them of this misunderstanding very soon.” 

However, there were some uplifting moments in the midst of all the expressions of dashed hopes. After international cricketer Chris Gayle tweeted that he’ll be coming to Pakistan, singer Asim Azhar responded with a welcoming tweet. Gayle wrote, “I’m going to Pakistan tomorrow, who coming with me?”

Replying to the cricketer, Azhar tweeted out, “Welcome Chris Gayle! Let us treat you with some good biryani, amazing music and safety like no other.” 

Following the announcement of New Zealand’s exit, Romanian singer Adrian Sina, popularly known as Akcent, took to social media to express his love for the country, where he has held several concerts in the past. The musician wrote, “I have been to Pakistan many times and I always felt it like a home. I feel safe there and the love I receive from Pakistan is beyond amazing. I will come back even more often. I love my fans! Pakistan Zindabad!”