ISLAMABAD – Pakistan is contemplating legal action against the cricketboards of New Zealand and England for causing damages worth millions to thestate run Television after both teams cancelled scheduled tours, InfoMinister Fawad Chaudhry said Tuesday.
Taking it to Twitter, Chaudhry said Pakistan Television (PTV) has suffereda huge financial loss while the ministry will consult with the legal teamregarding initiating legal action.
The ruling party minister also termed the development a ‘conspiracy by aninternational lobby’ but mentioned that such conspiracies will not succeed.
On Monday, the England and Wales Cricket Board announced to withdrew boththe men’s and women’s teams from next month’s tour of Pakistan citingsecurity concerns.
Battling isolation in international cricket and bidding to host regularinternational cricket on its soil, the South Asian country made all-outefforts in ensuring top-notch security for the visitors but was leftfrustrated as both teams cancelled the scheduled plan.
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Earlier, the Kiwis cited ‘credible security threat’, while players’ safetywas paramount. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in a statement on Fridaysaid that Black Caps informed the board that they had been alerted to somesecurity alert and have unilaterally decided to call off the much-awaitedseries.
Later, the New Zealand cricket chief said it was simply not possible tocontinue with the tour given the advice he was receiving. He said whilementioning that the decision will affect Pakistan, who tried their best.
Newly appointed Chairman Ramiz Raja while responding to ECB’s decision,expressed disappointment. “Disappointed with England, pulling out of theircommitment & failing a member of their Cricket fraternity when it needed itmost. Survive we will inshallah. A wake-up call for Pak team to become thebest team in the world for teams to line up to play them without makingexcuses”, he wrote on Twitter.
