Jos Buttler has sympathy for fans and players after Pakistan tour cancelled

England vice-captain Jos Buttler has expressed his sympathy for Pakistan fans and players after ECB bosses pulled the pin on their two match tour.

And the 31-year-old has revealed he hopes to play cricket in Pakistan for the first time on next year’s tour following the cancellation.

Buttler said: “You feel for the people of Pakistan and the players who want to welcome teams back and have cricket in their home country.

“I’ve spoken to a few of the guys in the Pakistan Super League who have thoroughly enjoyed playing there and it is unfortunate this time that it is not quite right and the board made their decision.

“I do hope that the tour that is due to go ahead in 2022 is one that gets England back playing in Pakistan and I am able to play cricket there for the first time in my career.”

Relations between the two boards are now at a low point though and there are no guarantees that the full tour in late 2022 as part of the future tours programme will go ahead as planned.

Such is the breakdown in trust, PCB chairman Ramiz Raja confirmed that they will be preparing a contingency plan for alternative opposition because they have no faith that England will fulfill their commitments.

Raja spoke with ECB chairman Ian Watmore and revealed: “I said what is the guarantee of England coming back and playing here in 2022, because a month before that tour you can easily quote tiredness, players being spooked again, sick of living in a bubble, or a threat perception that will once again be not shared with us.

“He clearly had no answer to that. So we’ll have a back-up plan for sure.”

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