Regardless of all reassurances from the Pakistani government and a positive security evaluation, New Zealand Cricket has called off its Pakistan tour, quoting it to “security threats” just before the beginning of the first ODI match.
The Black Caps were to play Pakistan today in the first of three ODIs in Rawalpindi, before going to Lahore for a five match T20 series.
The team had landed in the country after 18 years after positive analysis from a security expert assigned by them to analyze the situation.
In a statement, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) stated that the New Zealand Cricket told the board that they had been alarmed to some security alert and has individually decided to delay the series.
The PCB stated that the board and the Pakistan government made guaranteed security preparations for all staying teams and guaranteed the Black Caps 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 statement read.
The PCB said that the board is ready to carry on with the scheduled matches.
Cricket fans in Pakistan and around the world will be upset by this last-minute withdrawal.
