New Zealand called off Pakistan tour due to security concerns

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) have decided to ‘abandon' the limited-overs series in Pakistan due to security concerns, just minutes before the toss for the 1st one-day international was going to take place in Rawalpindi on Friday.New Zealand Cricket (NZC) in a statement said that the team will not continue with the tour following an "escalation in the New Zealand Government threat levels for Pakistan".

The BLACKCAPS are abandoning their tour of Pakistan following a New Zealand government security alert.

Arrangements are now being made for the team’s departure.

More information | https://t.co/Lkgg6mAsfu

— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) September 17, 2021

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), in an official statement, said it was a ‘unilateral’ decision. In a four tweet thread on Twitter, PCB said assurances were given to the New Zealand government that there was no threat to the security of their players if the ODI and T20I went ahead. 

We have assured the NZ 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.
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— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) September 17, 2021

New Zealand were visiting Pakistan for the first time in 18 years and were due to play three one-day internationals and five Twenty20 matches in Rawalpindi and Lahore.