New Zealand decline invitation to tour Pakistan due to safety concerns

According to the schedule, the two teams (New Zealand and Pakistan) had planned to play the series in October (in UAE), including three Tests, three ODIs, and three T20Is. In a hope of holding the T20I leg in Pakistan, the PCB sent an invitation to the NZC Board. Unfortunately, all the hopes were shattered after the latter decided to turn down the invitation.

The NZC Chairman, Greg Barclay said that they took this decision after looking at the security reports and the current scenario in Pakistan. He understood the situation from PCB’s perspective and stated the mutual agreement between the two Boards.

“We took this decision in accordance with the security reports we had obtained. There is no doubt that the PCB is disappointed. They saw a tour by a team like New Zealand as being a great precedent for them to start building an international programme back in Pakistan. They are good people, I know they understand the situation in which we took this decision,” Barclay told Newshub.

After the terror attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in 2009 and the widespread of terrorism in Pakistan, the cricket board decided to shift all of its home matches to UAE. However, of late a couple of teams have toured Pakistan. Zimbabwe played two T20Is and three ODIs at the Gaddafi stadium in Lahore followed by World XI’s visit for the three T20Is in September 2017. Earlier this year, the Windies also played three T20I games.

Barclay further said that he understood ICC’s attempts to facilitate more international cricket in Pakistan but a thorough process and discussion landed them into such a conclusion (of turning down the invitation).

“We totally understand that ICC is trying to facilitate more international cricket in Pakistan and we are supportive of that. But considering the current circumstances, we just could not take the decision to tour to Pakistan. We went through a very thorough process and I am comfortable with the final decision,” Barclay said.