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England’s Mark Wood said an attack on former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan was concerned ahead of a three-Test series in the Asian country, but added that he trusted the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to assess any safety concerns.
Former cricketer Khan, who was ousted as prime minister in April, was on his way to Islamabad six days into a protest march when he was shot in the shin on Thursday.
Wood played in a seven-match Twenty20 series hosted by Pakistan in September and October. The 32-year-old is also part of the England squad that will play Tests in Rawalpindi, Multan and Karachi in December.
“Obviously it’s not great,” Wood told reporters ahead of Saturday’s T20 World Cup clash with Sri Lanka. “He’s an ex-cricketer firstly, so it’s close to home for us. It’s obviously very sad news to hear as a group.
“From the security we’ve had (on the T20 tour) I can only say what we’ve come across and it’s been fantastic. We’ve been looked after very well but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t worried about it because you ‘ go back there if there was trouble.
“… it will be for people above me to decide whatever happens. But of course it’s worrying when you go back there as a cricketer and there’s turmoil in the country. It’s for their country to deal with, not us. We trust our security men who tell us what to do.”
In September last year, England followed New Zealand in canceling a scheduled white-ball tour of Pakistan due to security concerns.
International teams have largely refused to tour Pakistan since an attack by Islamist militants on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore in 2009 killed six policemen and two civilians.
Pakistan hosted Australia earlier this year and won hosting rights for next year’s Asia Cup and the 2025 Champions Trophy.
Former cricketer Khan, who was ousted as prime minister in April, was on his way to Islamabad six days into a protest march when he was shot in the shin on Thursday.
Wood played in a seven-match Twenty20 series hosted by Pakistan in September and October. The 32-year-old is also part of the England squad that will play Tests in Rawalpindi, Multan and Karachi in December.
“Obviously it’s not great,” Wood told reporters ahead of Saturday’s T20 World Cup clash with Sri Lanka. “He’s an ex-cricketer firstly, so it’s close to home for us. It’s obviously very sad news to hear as a group.
“From the security we’ve had (on the T20 tour) I can only say what we’ve come across and it’s been fantastic. We’ve been looked after very well but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t worried about it because you ‘ go back there if there was trouble.
“… it will be for people above me to decide whatever happens. But of course it’s worrying when you go back there as a cricketer and there’s turmoil in the country. It’s for their country to deal with, not us. We trust our security men who tell us what to do.”
In September last year, England followed New Zealand in canceling a scheduled white-ball tour of Pakistan due to security concerns.
International teams have largely refused to tour Pakistan since an attack by Islamist militants on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore in 2009 killed six policemen and two civilians.
Pakistan hosted Australia earlier this year and won hosting rights for next year’s Asia Cup and the 2025 Champions Trophy.
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