New Zealand Will Send Independent Security Consultant To Pakistan Amid Afghanistan Turmoil, Tour Remains Uncertain

New Zealand cricket team will send a security team to Pakistan to reassess the security situation for their players upcoming white-ball tour in September.

The move comes in the wake of the events happening in Pakistan’s neighbour country Afghanistan, where a militant organisation Taliban has taken the control of the nation’s rule.

New Zealand are scheduled to play 3 ODIS and five T20Is in Pakistan, in what could be the Black Caps’ first tour of the Asian country since 2003.

New Zealand tour of Pakistan remains uncertain amid security concerns

Before going to Pakistan, an inexperienced squad led by Tom Latham will tour Bangladesh to play five T20Is and the same set of players will play against Pakistan as the frontline players have given the commitment to play for their respective IPL teams.

But with the security concerns, it seems the Black Caps are not sure about their tour to Pakistan after what took place in Afghanistan. New Zealand Cricket Players Association’s Chief Executive Heath Mills said that they have appointed independent security consultant Reg Dickason to visit Pakistan and assess the security situation in the country.

New Zealand Cricket team to send independent security consultant to reassess the situation in Pakistan

Heath Mills also sympathised with Afghanistan citizens and wants assurance of his player’s safety.

“That will take him (Reg Dickson) four or five days and then he’ll report back, and recommend whether the tour goes ahead, or it doesn’t for whatever reason… if there are changes to whatever the plan might be. And at any point, if he’s uncomfortable he would communicate that and the team would exit Pakistan,” Mills told Stuff.co.nz. 

“We’re very comfortable with the process we’ve got, but notwithstanding that, with events in Afghanistan in the last few days, it’s very sad what’s happening in that country and people are obviously asking questions of our security check processes. That includes players, which is completely understandable. We just need to assure them of the process, and follow it, and reach a determination,” he added. 

Also Read: We Are Confident That Pakistan series Will Happen: Afghanistan Cricket Board