The tour was supposed to have three ODIs and five T20s but neither team left their hotel on the morning of the game, and spectators were not allowed to enter the stadium.
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In what has been an incredible turn of events, the New Zealand cricket side has called off their limited overs tour of Pakistan just minutes before the first ODI. The Kiwis cited security concerns as the reason for their withdrawal from the series. The decision is a massive blow to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) as the country has not hosted any international series for quite a while now. The tour was supposed to have three ODIs and five T20s but neither team left their hotel on the morning of the game, and spectators were not allowed to enter the stadium. The New Zealand cricket board released a statement on Friday mentioning that the tour was called off following an escalation in the New Zealand Government threat levels for Pakistan.
“Following an escalation in the New Zealand Government threat levels for Pakistan, and advice from NZC security advisors on the ground, it has been decided the Blackcaps will not continue with the tour,” the NZ cricket board statement read. The Kiwi contingent is reportedly preparing to leave the country.
NZC chief executive David White said that player safety was of paramount importance but was sure that the PCB would have been wonderful hosts. “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,” White said in a statement.
It is safe to say that the PCB was not happy with the way things have unfolded. Considering the fact that it was a unilateral decision taken by the NZC, it could not have been well received by the top PCB officials. “Earlier today, the New Zealand cricket board informed us that they had been alerted to some security alert and have unilaterally decided to postpone the series,” the PCB said in a statement.
“PCB and Govt of Pakistan made foolproof security arrangements for all visiting teams. We have assured the New Zealand cricket board of the same. The 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 added.
“The security officials with the NZ team have been satisfied with security arrangements made by the Govt of Pakistan throughout their stay here,” it concluded.
The New Zealand squad arrived in Islamabad on September 11th and had three training sessions since then in preparation for the first ODI. Both teams were staying in a hotel that was about a 15-minute drive away, with all security protocols in place. This was New Zealand’s first visit to Pakistan in 18 years, following an ODI series in 2003. That series was a continuation of New Zealand’s 2002 visit, which was cancelled due to an explosion at the hotel they were staying at in Karachi.
The decision to leave will cause concern for the PCB ahead of a busy home international season. The England men’s and women’s teams are scheduled to visit next month, but given that the ECB employs the same security consultants, there will be concerns about those tours. The West Indies, Australia, and New Zealand women’s teams are all scheduled to visit Pakistan during the season.
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