ECB To Make Decision On England's Tour Of Pakistan In 48 Hours After New Zealand Pull Out

England cricket team’s tour to Pakistan remains in serious concern after New Zealand pulled out of the limited-overs at the very last minute.

On Friday, New Zealand pulled out of the entire white-ball tour of Pakistan just before the start of the first ODI in Rawalpindi because of a “security alert” and arrangements are being made for the team’s departure.

The BLACKCAPS are abandoning their tour of Pakistan: New Zealand Cricket

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. The side was to play Pakistan this evening in the first of three ODIs in Rawalpindi, before moving to Lahore for a five-match T20 series,” New Zealand Cricket said in a release.

New Zealand were expected to play three ODIs and five T20 Internationals ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup campaign.

We are liaising with our security team on the ground in Pakistan to understand the situation: ECB

After the Black Caps withdrew from the tour, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) issued a statement that they will send their security teams to Pakistan to examine the situation for their two-match T20I series tour next month.

“We’re aware of New Zealand’s decision to pull out of the Pakistan tour. We are liaising with our security team on the ground in Pakistan to understand the situation. The ECB Board will decide in the next 24-48 hours whether our tour should proceed,” the ECB statement read.

Both England men’s and women’s teams are scheduled to tour Pakistan for two T20I fixtures. It would be the first time for the England women’s team that they will be travelling to Pakistan and the men’s team last travelled in 2005.

Also Read: Twitter Left In Shock As New Zealand Abandon Their Tour Of Pakistan Due To Security Concerns