England players had no role in Pakistan pullout decision

England cricketers had no role in the team’s decision to abandon their tour of Pakistan next month, the players’ union has said.

New Zealand returned home from Pakistan after abruptly abandoning their tour minutes before the opening fixture in Rawalpindi, citing a security alert from their government.

England followed suit this week, calling off their men’s and women’s teams tour of Pakistan, citing players’ “mental and physical well-being”.

Team England Player Partnership (TEPP), which represents England’s international players, said the cricketers were not asked for input.

“At no stage did TEPP inform the ECB that the players would not be touring,” TEPP chair Richard Bevan told website ESPNcricinfo. “At no stage has the ECB ever asked TEPP or the teams, men and women, whether the tour should go ahead or whether players were prepared to tour Pakistan.

“It is 100 per cent incorrect to suggest TEPP intervened to say the players would not tour.”

The England 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.