New Zealand Cancels Pakistan’s Cricket Tour

New Zealand cancels Pakistan’s cricket tour citing a security threat, visiting team came after 18 years: Pak-NZ cricket series abandoned.

The New Zealand team went on a tour of Pakistan after 18 years, where the team was to play a series of 3 ODIs and 5 T20 International matches and the first match of this ODI series was to be played today.

But shortly before the toss, this tour has been canceled for the time being. Security reasons have been cited for the cancellation of New Zealand’s tour of Pakistan.

The New Zealand team last went on a tour of Pakistan in the year 2003 and now after 18 years the team was to play in Pakistan, but this tour had to be canceled.

New Zealand cancels Pakistan’s cricket tour: The New Zealand Cricket Board official statement.

Before traveling to Lahore for the five-match T20I series, the Kiwis were scheduled to play the first match of the three-match ODI series against Pakistan in Rawalpindi this evening (17 September).

However, Following an increase in the threat level of the New Zealand government to Pakistan and advice from NZC security advisors on the ground.

It has been decided that the New Zealand Cricket Board will not continue the tour. Arrangements for the team’s departure are now being made.

NZC chief executive David White said it was not possible to continue the tour given the advice he was receiving.

“I think it will be a blow to the PCB, which have been excellent hosts, but the safety of the players is paramount and we believe this is the only responsible option for us at this point in time,” he said.

PCB has also issued a statement saying, “Shortly earlier today the New Zealand Cricket Board informed us that they had been alerted to certain security alerts and They have decided to postpone the series.”

Tight security arrangements have been made by the PCB and the Government of Pakistan for all the visiting teams. We have assured the New Zealand Cricket Board of the same.

PM spoke personally to the Prime Minister of New Zealand and informed them that we have one of the best intelligence systems in the world and there is no security threat to the visiting team of New Zealand.

The security officials accompanying the New Zealand team are satisfied with the security arrangements provided by the Pakistan government here.

PCB is ready to continue with the scheduled matches. However, cricket lovers in Pakistan and across the world will be disappointed at this last-minute return.

Why cricket boards are afraid of Pakistan:

It is noteworthy that in the year 2009 in Pakistan, terrorists attacked the Sri Lankan team bus near the Gaddafi Cricket Stadium in Lahore.

Six Sri Lankan cricketers were injured in this incident, while six Pakistani policemen and two civilians were killed in the attack.

This incident had a very bad effect on the Pakistan Cricket Board, due to which the whole country is still suffering.

Even international cricket was not organized in Pakistan for almost a decade, but apart from Zimbabwe and West Indies, countries like Sri Lanka started playing cricket in Pakistan.

Then other countries were also ready for it, but New Zealand Cricket Board received threats. After that, once again the big teams will keep shying away from going to Pakistan.