Mitchell McClenaghan
Mitchell McClenaghan (Image Credit: Twitter)

New Zealand pace bowler Mitchell McClenaghan responded to Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez’s dig at the New Zealand cricket team.

New Zealand were supposed to play Pakistan in three ODI matches and five T20 Internationals but on the ODI matchday on September 17, hours before the toss could take place, the Blackcaps pulled out of the entire white-ball series.

Wonder same route & same security but no threat for New Zealand today? Mohammad Hafeez 

New Zealand’s decision left the players and fans disappointed as they were expecting cricket action in the country after a long time. White thanked their counterpart Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for taking care of the New Zealand cricket team.

hafeez and sarfaraz
Mohammad Hafeez and Sarfaraz Ahmed [photo: TV 9 bharatvarsh]
Hafeez took to his Twitter handle to thank Pakistan’s security forces for helping the New Zealand cricket team reach the airport safely, which was somehow a jibe towards the BlackCaps.

“Thanks to the security of Pakistan forces to make arrangements to @BLACKCAPS to reach at airport Safe & Sound. Wonder same route & same security but no threat today???” Hafeez tweeted.

New Zealand players have only acted on the advice they have received: Mitchell McClenaghan

Replying to the veteran Pakistan player, McClenaghan mentioned that the players were just following the instructions given by the government and they wanted to play the series.

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Mitchell McClenaghan
Mitchell McClenaghan. Credits: Twitter

“Come now bro. This has a bad taste to it… Don’t blame the players or the organisation… blame our government. They have only acted on the advice they have received. I’m absolutely certain these young men – all wanting to prove themselves wanted to play. they had no choice,” McClenaghan tweeted.

New Zealand Cricket chief executive David White said that the board was in constant touch with their government officials and only when they were advised about a credible threat, they decided to leave Pakistan.

“What I can say is that we were advised this was a specific and credible threat against the team. We had several conversations with New Zealand government officials before making the decision and it was after informing the PCB of our position that we understand a telephone discussion was conducted between the respective Prime Ministers,” White issued an official statement. 

According to some reports, the New Zealand cricket team arrived in Dubai on Sunday and will go under a 24-hour quarantine period before most of them depart back home.

Also Read: “New Zealand Will Hear Us At ICC”: PCB Chairman Ramiz Raja Threatens Kiwis For Pulling Out Of Pakistan Tour

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