Threatening Emails To New Zealand Cricket Team Originated In India, Alleges Pakistan's Information Minister
Published - 22 Sep 2021, 06:51 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:55 AM
New information regarding New Zealand‘s abandoned tour of Pakistan has come to light as Fawad Chaudhry, Pakistan’s Information Minister has alleged that the threatening emails written to the Kiwis were originated in India.
The Black Caps called off their Pakistan tour, which comprised 3 ODIs and 5 T20Is, minutes before the first ODI was to be played last Friday in Rawalpindi citing security concerns. The NZC stated that they had received information from their government about threat levels increasing in Pakistan and hence decided against taking the field. They soon left the country for Dubai and have now reached back home.
Now, Pakistan’s Information Minister has come after their neighbours with some accusations.
“This email was generated from India through a VPN showing the location of Singapore,” Chaudhry told reporters on Wednesday in Islamabad.
Chaudhry also stated that the West Indies team, due to arrive in December, had also been sent a threat, which he said are fake. India’s foreign ministry haven’t yet made any comment in response to these allegations.
After New Zealand pulling out of their tour, the ECB has, Expectedly, also withdrawn from sending their men’s and women’s teams for their white-ball commitment in October, citing bubble fatigue.
The men’s and women’s teams were due to play T20I double-headers in Rawalpindi on October 13 and 14, with the women’s team staying on for a 3-match ODI series.
Ramiz Raja hits out at the “western bloc”
Ramiz Raja, the new PCB chairman, has slammed the “western bloc” expressing his disappointment at New Zealand and England not fulfilling their tours.
“I am severely disappointed in England’s withdrawal but it was expected because this western bloc gets united unfortunately and tries to back each other,” Ramiz said in a video released by the PCB.
“So you can take any decision on the basis of security threat and perception. There was a sense of anger because first New Zealand got away without sharing information about the threat they were facing.”
Pakistan have toured both the nations since cricket returned in the pandemic era, however, the cancellations of their home games have irked the PCB chairman.
“Now, this [England] was expected but this is a lesson for us because we go out of our way to accommodate and pamper these sides when they visit. And when we go there, we undergo strict quarantines and we tolerate their admonishments, but there is a lesson in this. That is, that from now on we will only go as far as is in our interest.”
Pakistan will meet New Zealand during their Super 12 stage match of the T20 World Cup.