'Western arrogance': Michael Holding slams England for pulling out of Pakistan tour

One of the greatest voices of cricket and former West Indies fast bowler, Michael Holding slammed the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for pulling out of the Pakistan tour. ECB had withdrawn both men's and women's teams out of the proposed Pakistan tour in October owing to concerns over 'mental and physical well-being'.

Holding said that the statement released by the ECB had no substance and amounted their decision to 'Western arrogance'. "The ECB statement doesn’t wash with me. No substance. Nobody wants to come forward and face up to anything because they know what they did was wrong.

"So they put out a statement and hid behind a statement. It just reminds me of the rubbish they did with Black Lives Matter. “I won’t go back into that because I’ve said enough about that. But what that signal sends to me, is the same Western arrogance," Holding further added.

ECB in a statement had said that given the environment with the bubbles, playing in Pakistan in the current situation with the aforementioned security concerns won't be an ideal preparation for the men's team especially for the upcoming T20 World Cup.

"I will treat you how I feel like treating you, it doesn’t matter what you think, I’ll just do what I want, Holding in his criticism of England's decision said.

ECB in their statement had recognised Pakistan's fulfillment of their bilateral ties by touring England for two consecutive years, mentioning the same Holding said that England wouldn't have done the same if it was Indian in place of Pakistan.

“Pakistan went to England before vaccines were available for six or seven weeks. They stayed, they played their cricket, they honoured what England wanted them to honour, to save England’s butt, to put it mildly.

“Four days in Pakistan? I’m absolutely sure they would not have done that to India, because India is rich and powerful, he added.