Last week, New Zealand cricket abandoned an One-Day International (ODI) against Pakistan minutes before the first ODI commenced. On further investigation, the tourists said that they withdrew from the series due to security concerns. However, the visitors did not mention the kind of secuirty issue. This was followed by the England and Wales Cricket Board cancelling both its women’s and men’s cricket tour to the Asian country. The English side, too, mentioned security reasons.

Ramiz Raja, chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, was disappointed with England’s decision. However, following the withdrawals, he called upon the national team to prove themselves as the best cricketing side in the world.

Meanwhile, British diplomat and the High Commissioner to Pakistan, Christian Turner, posted a video on his official handle and clarified that it was not his government’s decision to cancel England’s tour of Pakistan. The ECB works independent of the UK government and it was their decision, he said.

This wasn’t enough for the fuming Pakistan supporters who connected the cancelled tour to the reports of Pakistan selling jets to Argentina, with whom the UK have been involved in a war.

In the video, Turner said that the British High Commission supported the tour and it did not advise the team against the tournament.

Turner said he would be trying to make the England tour of Pakistan in the second half of 2022 happen.

“Main umeed karta hun (I hope) we will soon hear the roar of full cricket stadiums again. Aakhir mein jeet cricket ki hogi (In the end, cricket will be victorious),” said Turner.

The Falkland Island connect

Reportedly, the Argentinian government has planned to spend £483million on 12 PAC JF-17A Block III fighters from Pakistan. However, in the latest statement, Argentina said that they have not mentioned the type of fighters they will be buying. They reportedly have presented a draft budget for 2022 for 12 jets.

Both Argentina and Pakistan have cordial relations. The latter also voted in favour of the UN Resolution, in relation to the Falklands issue, saying that “the continued existence of colonialism is incompatible with the ideal of universal peace held by the United Nations”.

This came after President Alberto Fernández’s government lost the midterm primaries. The defeat happened 12 months after the president claimed that the Falkland Islands, Islas Malvinas (Argentina), were occupied by the UK illegally.

At the 75th UNGA, Fernandez claimed that Britain has an “excessive and unjustified military presence on the islands”.

Reaction to Turner’s message

While some dismissed his claims and said that he was giving it a spin, some were hopeful of the future. Certain sections commended him for speaking flawless Urdu.

Khurram Nawaz Gandapur, the Secretary-General of Pakistan Awami Tehreek, referring to the cancelled tours, said that the wasn’t fair to Pakistan.

“Please don’t put a spin on this, High Commissioner. If there were no Security issues then what motivated the ECB to call off the trip? This is unfair to Pakistan & doesn’t serve the cause of Cricket. Irreparable damage has been inflicted upon CRICKET,” said Gandapur.