New Zealand’s tour of Pakistan has been abandoned following a New Zealand government security alert.
The teams were due to meet on Friday in the first of three ODIs in Rawalpindi, before moving on to Lahore for a five-match T20I series.
However, neither team left their hotel rooms on the morning of the opening game, while spectators were not admitted entry to the ground.
New Zealand officials confirmed that “following an escalation in the New Zealand government threat levels for Pakistan, and advice from NZC security advisors on the ground” the tour had been cancelled, with arrangements being made for the visitors’ departure.
“I understand this will be a blow for the PCB, who have been wonderful hosts, but player safety is paramount and we believe this is the only responsible option,” said NZC chief executive David White.
Heath Mills, chief executive of the New Zealand Cricket Players Association, added: “We’ve been across this process throughout and are fully supportive of the decision. The players are in good hands; they’re safe – and everyone’s acting in their best interests.”
The PCB stated in response: “Earlier today, New Zealand Cricket informed us they had been alerted to some security alert and have unilaterally decided to postpone the series.
New Zealand have abandoned their tour of Pakistan
“Pakistan Cricket Board and Pakistan government made foolproof security arrangements for all visiting teams. We have assured the New Zealand Cricket of the same. The Pakistan prime minister spoke personally to the prime minister of New Zealand and informed her that we have one of the best intelligence systems in the world and that no security threat of any kind exists for the visiting team.
“The security officials with the New Zealand team have been satisfied with security arrangements made by the Pakistan government throughout their stay here.
“PCB is willing to continue the scheduled matches. However, cricket lovers in Pakistan and around the world will be disappointed by this last minute withdrawal.”
New PCB chairman Ramiz Raja issued an angry statement on social media, in which he said New Zealand "will hear" Pakistan's frustrations at ICC level.
"Crazy day it has been," he wrote on Twitter.
"Feel so sorry for the fans and our players. Walking out of the tour by taking a unilateral approach on a security threat is very frustrating. Especially when it’s not shared!! Which world is NZ living in?? NZ will hear us at ICC."
The developments go beyond the immediate impact of a cancelled tour on the reputation of Pakistan as a safe place for visiting teams to play and on the PCB's finances.
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No play took place at Rawalpindi on Friday
England's men and women are due to tour Pakistan in mid-October - the men for two T20s in the build-up to the World Cup, the women for six white-ball matches - but that trip now looks under serious threat.
An ECB statement on Friday read: "We're aware of New Zealand's decision to pull out of the Pakistan tour due to a security alert.
"We are liaising with our security team who are on the ground in Pakistan to fully understand the situation. The ECB board will then decide in the next 24-48 hours whether our planned tour should proceed."
That England and New Zealand share a security consultant - the Australian Reg Dickason - does not bode well for the chances of the England tours taking place.
It seems highly unlikely that a safety concern treated with this level of response by New Zealand would be considered any less serious by other major cricketing nations.
Furthermore, there will be considerable concerns within the Pakistan Super League over what happens next for the six-team franchise tournament, which has worked so hard over several years to put in place security arrangements to allow the competition to return home in its entirety.
The competition's next season is scheduled to take place in January and February next year.
Comments
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Posted byDennison18/09/2021 at 11:38
Terrible news
Posted byabdul sattaron17/09/2021 at 11:53
The main reason for the cancellation of the New Zealand tour
According to New Zealand Cricket chief executive David White, given the information he has received, it does not seem possible to play the series. What was this information? Is there any New Zealand security agency working in Pakistan on the information of which this series was canceled. It is not like that. Why they have decided not to play this series?
One of the highlights was that 4,500 spectators were allowed to watch the match and tickets had been booked, but this morning the spectators were suddenly barred from entering the stadium. New Zealand team officials were shocked by the new situation and they decided to return. One or two questions are being raised in this regard.
Was Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid unaware of the fact that the team returned in 2002 after a bomb blast outside his hotel killed 14 people on the spot? It is unfortunate that the Kiwis began to feel threatened by themselves, the common people in the hotel are also hanging out among the Kiwi players.
Now, Federal Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid will hold a press conference on Friday at 4.30 pm and will also talk about the series in this press conference. He must explain why the first reaction from the government is this matter is that The match is being canceled because of Corona when the reality has nothing to do with it. The real truth is that the cover of poor security arrangements was torn down by the New Zealand officials.
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