England’s trip to Pakistan in doubt after New Zealand abandon tour

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England will decide in the next 48 hours whether their planned Twenty20 internationals in Pakistan will go ahead after New Zealand abandoned their tour of the country over security concerns.

The Black Caps were due to play Pakistan later on Friday in the first of three one-day internationals in Rawalpindi before moving to Lahore for a five-match Twenty20 series, but pulled out of the tour on the morning of the first match.

New Zealand Cricket said the team would return home “following an escalation in the New Zealand Government threat levels for Pakistan, and advice from NZC security advisors on the ground”.

England are due to play Pakistan in back-to-back men’s Twenty20 internationals in Rawalpindi on October 13th and 14th.

England Women also have Twenty20 matches scheduled against Pakistan on the same dates, before three one-day internationals on October 17th, 19th and 21st.

An ECB spokesperson said: “We’re aware of New Zealand’s decision to pull out of the Pakistan tour due to a security alert.

“We are liaising with our security team who are on the ground in Pakistan to fully understand the situation.

“The ECB board will then decide in the next 24-48 hours whether our planned tour should proceed.”

New Zealand Cricket said it would not comment on the details of the security threat.

NZC chief executive David White said: “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.”

In a statement of its own, the Pakistan Cricket Board expressed disappointment in the decision and said it was willing to continue the series.

“Earlier today, New Zealand Cricket informed us they had been alerted to some security alert and have unilaterally decided to postpone the series,” the statement said.

“Pakistan Cricket Board and the Pakistan Government made foolproof security arrangements for all visiting teams. We have assured New Zealand Cricket of the same.

“The Pakistan 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.

England v Sri Lanka – Second Vitality IT20 – Sophia Gardens
England are due to head to Pakistan next month for a pair of Twenty20 fixtures (David Davies/PA)

“The security officials with the New Zealand team have been satisfied with security arrangements made by the Pakistan Government throughout their stay here.

“PCB is willing to continue the scheduled matches. However, cricket lovers in Pakistan and around the world will be disappointed by this last-minute withdrawal.”

Last week the final Test between England and India was called off at the last minute as the tourists reported a number of Covid-19 cases within their camp, while England have postponed their own planned tour of Bangladesh to 2023.

Questions remain over this winter’s Ashes series in Australia, whose own planned fixtures against Afghanistan in November are in doubt.

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