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New Zealand’s males crew have deserted their tour of Pakistan following a New Zealand authorities “safety alert”.
The Black Caps had been resulting from play Pakistan within the first of three one-day internationals in Rawalpindi on Friday earlier than shifting to Lahore for a five-match Twenty20 sequence.
The choice to desert the tour got here after “an escalation within the New Zealand authorities risk ranges for Pakistan”.
England’s males’s and girls’s groups are resulting from play in Rawalpindi subsequent month.
The women and men are scheduled to play double-header T20 internationals on 13 and 14 October earlier than the ladies’s aspect play three ODIs on 17, 19 and 21 October.
New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has mentioned it won’t touch upon the small print of the safety risk with plans being put in place for the crew to return dwelling.
“I perceive this will probably be a blow for the PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board), who’ve been great hosts, however participant security is paramount and we consider that is the one accountable possibility,” mentioned NZC chief govt David White.
In December 2019, Pakistan played a Test at home for the primary time because the Sri Lanka crew bus was attacked in 2009.
With worldwide groups opting to not tour due to safety fears, Pakistan have performed nearly all of their ‘dwelling’ matches since 2009 within the United Arab Emirates, typically in entrance of sparse crowds.
Pakistan assured New Zealand Cricket of ‘fool-proof safety preparations’
In a press release, the PCB mentioned that Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan – a former Pakistan cricket captain – had spoken to his New Zealand counterpart Jacinda Ardern and advised her that “no safety risk of any sort exists for the visiting crew”.
“Earlier right this moment, New Zealand Cricket knowledgeable us that they had been alerted to some safety alert and have unilaterally determined to postpone the sequence,” the assertion mentioned.
“Pakistan Cricket Board and the Pakistan authorities made fool-proof safety preparations for all visiting groups. We’ve assured New Zealand Cricket of the identical.
“The Pakistan Prime Minister spoke personally to the Prime Minister of New Zealand and knowledgeable her that we have now probably the greatest intelligence techniques on the earth and that no safety risk of any sort exists for the visiting crew.
“The safety officers with the New Zealand crew have been glad with safety preparations made by the Pakistan authorities all through their keep right here.
“PCB is prepared to proceed the scheduled matches. Nevertheless, cricket lovers in Pakistan and world wide will probably be upset by this last-minute withdrawal.”
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