The West Indies Cricket Team has rescheduled their tour to Pakistan for a three-match T20 series with the senior Caribbean players expressing concern about their security, as per the sources have claimed.
The sources close to Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have said the tour would be planned next year when a window will be available for both the teams. However, PCB has not made any statement regarding the fate of the series.
“Some of the players were reluctant to tour when the West Indies Board spoke to them. Seniors like Chris Gayle, Kieron Pollard, and Dwayne Bravo made it clear they would not be available for the series if it went ahead,” a source was heard saying to NDTV.
Earlier, West Indies Players Association (WIPA) also raised their concern about the security problem despite International Cricket Council’s (ICC) security arrangements. The source further added:
“Even the West Indies Players Association (WIPA) had concerns despite being sent the report of the security company hired by the ICC to inspect security situation and arrangements in Pakistan.”
Reportedly, the World XI visited Lahore in September to play a three-match T20 series, and subsequently, Sri Lankan Cricket Board sent a team to play a lone T20 on October 29, after inspection visits and favorable reports of the security experts.
“But apparently even the World Eleven and Sri Lankan team tours were not enough to lay to rest the concerns of some West Indies players,” the source mentioned.
However, another source said that since West Indies had to go to New Zealand on November 25 and the adverse weather conditions led the tour to be postponed. But the tour will happen as the West Indies Cricket Board has not backed out and are dedicated to carrying on the tour.