West Indies’ proposed three-match T20I tour of Pakistan is facing further uncertainty after several leading players from the Caribbean expressed concerns about the security.
Sources from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have said that several West Indies players have refused to tour Pakistan and that the series will now take place in 2018 if a window for the same is available to both sides.
“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,” one source told PTI.
“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,” the source added.
After international cricket in the country came to a halt following the terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in 2009, 2017 has brought a cheer for the country with the ICC World XI visiting for a three-match series and Sri Lanka playing a lone T20I in Lahore on October 29.
The likes of Chris Gayle and Kieron Pollard remain hesitant to tour Lahore.
However, it seems that the positive momentum generated by these matches has failed to allay the fears of several players from the West Indies side.
“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 said.
There had earlier been reports that the proposed T20I series in Lahore would be postponed to next year amidst concerns of smog in November. Coupled with the security concerns, it looks like the visit of the Caribbean side will be postponed to 2018 in all probability.
The source added that Cricket West Indies remains committed to the series going ahead at some point in time.
“But it will take place eventually as the West Indies cricket board have not backed out and are committed to making the tour,” the source concluded.