Former cricketers Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Akhtar have slammed New Zealand Cricket for abruptly cancelling their tour of Pakistan due to security concerns in Rawalpindi.
New Zealand Cricket said they received a security notice from the government and decided to cancel the tour only minutes before the one-day international series.
“Following an escalation in the New Zealand government threat levels for Pakistan; and advice from NZC security advisers on the ground, it has been decided the Black Caps will not continue with the tour,” NZC said on its website.
But Afridi called the security alert a hoax while Akhtar said; “New Zealand just killed Pakistan cricket” along with a few angry emojis in his tweet.
“On a HOAX threat you have called-off the tour despite all assurances!! @BLACKCAPS do you understand the IMPACT of your decision?” the former Pakistan captain tweeted.
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This was also suppose to be New Zealand’s first international cricket series in Pakistan in 18 years.
But it was abandon after the visiting team refuses to come to the stadium; and stays in their hotel rooms due to security concerns.
From September 17 to October 3, Pakistan was to host New Zealand for a series of three One-Day Internationals and also five Twenty-20 Internationals at Rawalpindi and Lahore.
The cricket body of New Zealand said arrangements were now being made for the team’s safe return home; citing an increase in threat levels and security consultants’ advice.
This would be the first international cricket series in Pakistan in 18 years for New Zealand.
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