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[ProCricketer1982]

amateurs players will represents national teams.

obviously edited a bit but that's an interesting concept..  If the Pro's can't be bothered to take it seriously then maybe returning it to amateur status and allow those who do wish to play represent the nation and leave the pro's to play T3, T5, T10, T16, T20 in IPL, SPL, EPL, RPL, CPL, BPL, BB, 100, 99, 76 comps

[edge]

Pretty lousy from the ECB/England setup to be honest, poor Pakistan get stiffed again. At least New Zealand bothered to say there was a security threat rather than just give excuses.

[Neon Cricket]

Pretty lousy from the ECB/England setup to be honest, poor Pakistan get stiffed again. At least New Zealand bothered to say there was a security threat rather than just give excuses.

Can't disagree with this. If there's a genuine security threat then that's absolutely more than enough reason not to travel - which based on NZCB and ECB sharing the same security consultants you would assume is still relevant as threats in these regions don't just disappear overnight.

However the statement put out just seems to read a bit of a "it's an inconvenience and we'd prefer to be training elsewhere ahead of the T20 WC instead of playing a couple of meaningless games in Pakistan".

[More Glue Than Wood]

lets hope it is a genuine security issues as if it is just 'bubble issues' then it is pretty poor considering pakistan came over last year to play in the UK

[LockieEP]

As security issues not flagged as a key concern it does seem more that players are taking a more CBA approach,( I am being flippant as I am sure bubble life is tough) perhaps based on India !

No reason why an England A team could not be sent or also continue with the womens tour?
UAE doesnt really help as Pakistan need income from fans in stadium and more interest then to also watch on tv
But if security is the key driver then say so!

[rahul_1987]

NZ team were already in Pakistan so looks pretty obvious that the threat was maybe 'real' otherwise why bother. Once NZ backed off there was no way England Players would go there. The message around the reasons could have been better from ECB.

[mo_town]

Its quite interesting that despite being provided with presidential level of security NZ refused to play and cancelled. Also, they didnt want to disclose the details of the threat to PCB or Pak govt.

Either they stiffed Pak or the threat could have been from someone within the authorities. Very mysterious!

[Warneymonster]

the statement from the ECB reads as if someone in PR and Marketing has written it, and tried to add an excuse. Its not good from them.

I can understand the NZ team going if there was a credible threat, they havent added any other reasons. I doubt we will ever know the real reasons behind the england tour but i can imagine that players had the big say in it and once the majority said no, they had to call both tours off.

none of the pundits chucking in their 50p opinions because they want gig on the PSL are helping, they know the same amount of information as we do. Mark Butcher and Ebony Brent behaving like the players just dint fancy it.

I have read today that there has been a threat on the NZ womens team today but not deemed credible, if thats the case and a reaction to the tours being cancelled then the decisions were fully justified. peoples lives are more important than cricket

[edge]

The ECB statement might as well have said 'didn't fancy it', there wasn't a lot else in there. If it was a security problem, why not say? Player power shouldn't have got it cancelled when we were happy to play a second XI at home, wouldn't have been difficult to find enough players for a four day tour. Piss poor, media reports Pakistan are already looking for a replacement team for the tour England are supposed to be doing next winter and you can hardly blame them.

[mr_reagan]

Piss poor from the ECB after Pakistan helped them out big time last year. Pretty sure they stayed here in a bubble for almost 2 months in a country that was significantly worse off with COVID. I find it very hard to believe they couldn't cobble together a squad of 14 players for a 4 day tour considering how many have been to play in the PSL in Pakistan. That being said, i dont think its because its Pakistan. The ECB have form for this cancelling SA, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and now Pakistan in the last 18 months. Covid obviously played a role but its a pattern that i imagine will cost them in the long run somehow. There arent that many cricket playing nations its worth organising a tour with, they seem to have pissed off half the list in the year and a half.

[InternalTraining]

The ECB have form for this cancelling SA, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and now Pakistan in the last 18 months. Covid obviously played a role but its a pattern that i imagine will cost them in the long run somehow. There arent that many cricket playing nations its worth organising a tour with, they seem to have pissed off half the list in the year and a half.

Incentive is simply not that big enough. Many players are making big bucks in private leagues. Why bother? It makes sense that India players pulled out of Test-5 to play in IPL.

Money has found its way in cricket and players have a taste for it now. They will go where the money is, simple. Cricket stuck to the classic model for a long time but now boards will have to wrestle with these new questions and different ways of conducting business.

I don't see cricket going back to the old ways of doing business. Show me another sport where two nations played a 5-Test series every two years. Cricket was unique it that sense. No more. Money talks and we will see more of that talking.

New boards. New governance. New leagues.

[InternalTraining]

obviously edited a bit but that's an interesting concept..  If the Pro's can't be bothered to take it seriously then maybe returning it to amateur status and allow those who do wish to play represent the nation ...

This happens in all Olympic sports - those players get sponsored by some big brand. You know the drill.

Cricket was different and I think it was amazing that it stayed true to the classic model of sports for such a long time. We may be witnessing an irrevocable shift from this model. 

[mr_reagan]

Incentive is simply not that big enough. Many players are making big bucks in private leagues. Why bother?

Money has found its way in cricket and players have a taste for it now. They will go where the money is, simple. Cricket stuck to the classic model for a long time but now boards will have to wrestle with these new questions and different ways of conducting business.

I don't see cricket going back to the old ways of doing business. Show me another sport where two nations played a 5-Test series every two years. Cricket was unique it that sense. No more. Money talks and we will see more of that talking.

New boards. New governance. New leagues.

You're essentially describing the death of international cricket and most likely the ECB and all of the current cricket boards. A bunch of privatised leagues could bypass the current cricket management structure since the only real repercussions players could face is not being selected for international squads which you've implied will become an after thought anyway. Essentially what the ICL tried back in day but the stick you have to deter player participation is much smaller and largely ineffective.

[InternalTraining]

Essentially what the ICL tried back in day but the stick you have to deter player participation is much smaller and largely ineffective.

Right.

Streaming tech is ubiquitous and most fans stream their cricket these days. TV broadcasters are not needed. If an international league is not affiliated with a cricket board, why would you need permission to work (read: play) as an employee (read: players) of an international league. Anyone seen WWE?

[mr_reagan]

Right.

Streaming tech is ubiquitous and most fans stream their cricket these days. TV broadcasters are not needed. If an international league is not affiliated with a cricket board, why would you need permission to work (read: play) as an employee (read: players) of an international league. Anyone seen WWE?

Im sure it would result in a big legal battle but if international cricket becomes as irrelevant as your suggesting it could happen. Tbh there is no reason why international cricket on the T20/limited overs side cant be as successful as the IPL, its just marketing. Its not like its full of super teams. You are essentially watching the Indian T20 blast with a bunch of cheerleaders.