Team News Riveting
Pakistan today came out with a silly theory and blamed the United States (US) for the cancellation of the New Zealand and England cricket team tour.
Just three days after the New Zealand Cricket Board took the decision following the government’s alert not to play in Pakistan, England also pulled out from the tour. The men’s and women’s cricket teams of England were scheduled to arrive in Pakistan next month.
Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry on Tuesday said Pakistan was paying the price for its stance of “absolutely not” with regards to the recent tour cancellation by the New Zealand and England cricket boards.
Addressing a post-cabinet meeting press conference, Chaudhry termed the boards’ decision as “unfortunate”. “If nations want to hold their head high then there is a price for that and nations pay that. I think Pakistan is ready to deal with any challenge,” he said, adding that “If you say ‘absolutely not’ then it has a price and you have to pay it.”
The Minister was apparently referring to Prime Minister Imran Khan’s comments in June when he asserted that Pakistan would “absolutely not” allow any bases and use of its territory to the US for any sort of action inside Afghanistan — his clear-cut response surprising the interviewer.
In a state of shock following the cancellation of the cricket team’s tour, Pakistan had been blaming the US but ignoring the real cause. Its open support to the Taliban could be the reason for the spoilsport.
In desperation, Pakistan Board is trying to allure Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to conduct short series and save its face.
The government is also mooting plan to take legal action against New Zealand and England cricket board.
