New Zealand tour of Pakistan
Pakistan vs New Zealand. Credits: Twitter

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to allow crowds in for the upcoming white-ball series against New Zealand at home. New Zealand is visiting Pakistan for the first time for international cricket after 2003 and it is a sort of historic tour.

New Zealand will arrive in Islamabad on Sept. 11 with Rawalpindi hosting three ODIs before five T20Is in Lahore. International cricket resumed in Pakistan in 2019 after opposing teams had rejected to travel following a militant attack on the Sri Lanka team bus in Lahore in 2009 that killed six policemen and two civilians. Pakistan was deprived of any international cricket since then and had to move base to UAE and other places, even playing Test matches in England.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). (Photo: Twitter)

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) To Invite 25 Percent Crowds For The Eight Matches Of New Zealand Tour

The Pakistan cricket board said that they will allow spectators who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 to attend home limited-overs series against New Zealand. This news came after the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) has approved crowds to attend the matches between the two sides.

“Spectators are the essence of any sporting event as they create an ambiance and atmosphere for the players to excel, perform and enjoy. We are grateful to the NCOC (National Command and Operation Centre) for allowing the PCB to invite 25 percent crowds for the eight matches,” PCB chief executive Wasim Khan said in a statement.

This decision means that around 4,500 spectators can watch the three-match ODI series at Pindi Cricket Stadium on Sept. 17, 19, and 21. Pakistan has reported about 1.16 million cases of COVID-19 with over 25,600 deaths, according to government data.

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New Zealand vs Pakistan
New Zealand vs Pakistan. Credits: Twitter

The Pindi Cricket Stadium will be able to welcome 4,500 spectators for the 50-overs format while the Gaddafi Stadium can have a crowd of around 5,500 for the T20 matches after PCB got the approval from the National Command and Operations Centre, which is a military-run body that oversees Covid-19 operations in Pakistan.

Pakistan is coming off a T20I series win in West Indies and managed to equalize the two-match Test series in the Caribbean 1-1, despite losing the first Test match. Since the return of international cricket in the nation, Pakistan has hosted South Africa, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Zimbabwe.

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