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The New Zealand cricket team cancelled the tour a few minutes before the Rawalpindi game. This is the first time the team has played in Pakistan in 18 years.
The New Zealand cricket team canceled the tour against Pakistan a few minutes before the first match was originally scheduled to start in the Pakistani city of Rawalpindi on the grounds of safety issues, both cricket teams said.
The New Zealand team was originally scheduled to play the Pakistani team in Rawalpindi on Friday for the first match on Pakistani territory in 18 years.
However, a few minutes before the scheduled game, New Zealand Cricket (NZC)-the country’s sports national committee-issued a statement stating that it had “abandoned” the tour due to government security alerts.
“[F]With the escalation of the threat level of the New Zealand government to Pakistan and the recommendations of the local NZC security consultant, it has been decided that Black Caps will not continue to tour,” statement.
The Pakistan Cricket Committee (PCB) stated that despite the “safety arrangements” for the series, the New Zealand cricket tournament has “unilaterally” cancelled the tour, and the series will include the event held in Rawalpindi. Three one-day international matches and five T20 matches in Eastern cities. Lahore.
“PCB is willing to continue the scheduled competition,” the PCB statement said. “However, cricket enthusiasts in Pakistan and around the world will be disappointed with the last-minute exit.”
Earlier today, the New Zealand Cricket Committee informed us that they have received some security alerts and unilaterally decided to postpone the series.
PCB and the Pakistani government have made a foolproof security arrangement for all visiting teams. 1/4
-Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) September 17, 2021
At the same time, the Minister of Information of Pakistan stated that Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan had a conversation with New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Friday to assure her the safety of the team.
“Not long ago, Prime Minister Imran Khan got in touch with the Prime Minister of New Zealand and assured her that the New Zealand team is guaranteed safe in Pakistan. PCB stated that the New Zealand security team has its own security arrangements for Pakistan,” said Minister of Information Fawad Chaudhry .
“Our intelligence agency is one of the best intelligence systems in the world. According to them, the New Zealand team is not facing any threats.”
In a statement, NZC chief executive David White stated that given the safety advice he received, it is impossible to continue the tour.
“I know this is a blow to PCB. They have always been excellent hosts, but player safety is the most important thing. We believe this is the only responsible choice,” he said.
The New Zealand Players Association also expressed confidence in the decision to abandon the tour.
NZC said it is arranging for the New Zealand men’s cricket team to leave Pakistan.
This move will be seen as a blow to the Pakistani cricket team’s efforts to bring all teams’ international cricket back to Pakistan. The country’s teams were forced to attack the Sri Lanka cricket team in 2008. Six years in exile. Lahore.
Since the Zimbabwe men’s cricket team held a historic tournament in 2015 to commemorate the return of international cricket to Pakistan, tournaments in other countries have appeared many times. In January, the South African team participated in the most recent tournament.
The question remains whether the English men’s cricket team will continue to plan for the national tour next month.
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