Paceman Abbas added that it was a bad reward for Pakistan’s decision to visit England last year in the wake of the outbreak of coronavirus in Britain.
“Obviously, if you give 100 percent, you need to return the same items,” he said. “It hurts us.”
England and the Wales Cricket Board (ECB) cited ‘growing concerns about going to the region’ on Monday just three days after New Zealand also left to visit Pakistan for security reasons.
Pakistan traveled to England last year when Covid-19 infection rates in Britain were among the highest in the world in a three-match Test and T20 series that saved millions of ECBs on television rights agreements.
“We’re sacrificing a lot of things, so it’s weird,” Abbas, who plays for England’s Hampshire club, told reporters after the South Coast team was denied the County Championship title by one wicket in Lancashire in Liverpool. “We are disappointed.”
The first English men’s trip to Pakistan since 2005 was intended to last only four days and two Twenty20 Internationals in Rawalpindi on October 13 and 14.
Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ramiz Raja said he felt “used and held” by the ECB, Abbas said: “We [Pakistanis] love cricket, we want to play cricket, we were at an unusual time when Covid was everywhere.
“I am proud of our security structures so it hurts us that [England] is not going to Pakistan.”
Abbas, a 25-year veteran, said the fact that a number of English cricketers, including Hampshire captain James Vince, played in the Pakistan Super League last season made the decision to cancel a visit to England very confusing.
“We played together in the PSL for the Multan Sultans so [the English cricketers] were happy, they were happy to go to Pakistan. I spoke to him, he said ‘the ECB spoke to you seeking advice, I said’ no they did not get advice from us’. They made their decision. ”
Abbas, 31, added: “I am a great player, and if you need me, I will be available to you. If the countries do not respect us, we will see what is best for our country. ”
If Hampshire had won on Thursday they would have won their first County Championship title in 48 years.
Lancashire were heading for 196 goals in 177-5 but lost four wickets by 17 runs.
England spin-off Mason Crane, who took 5-51 overall and re-run Tom Bailey left Lancashire in 194-9.
But Lancashire captain Dane Vilas, who previously played for South Africa, hit a high note leaving his team at the top of the table, despite being crowned champions when Warwickshire beat Somerset in a game that ends on Friday.
Abbas, who took 5-48 in Lancashire’s first innings but did not wicket in the second, was a philosopher with a tragic outcome.
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