New Zealand Rescheduling Pakistan Tour, PCB Chairman Ramiz Raja Tells Senate Body

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Ramiz Raja has given good news to the senate body saying that New Zealand Cricket (NZC) is looking to rescheduling their tour of Pakistan, which they had abandoned owing to a security threat on the day of the first ODI between Pakistan and New Zealand last month.

The New Zealand cricket team had arrived in Pakistan on September 11 for the first time in 18 years to play three ODIs and five Twenty20 Internationals. However, the Pakistan fans were devastated as the New Zealand contingent refused to come out of their hotel after their government conveyed a security threat, which led to the entire squad leaving for UAE via Islamabad the next day.

The tour cancellation was followed by England also deferring their tour.

‘Good News In The Offing’ As NZC Working On Rescheduling The Pakistan Tour

Entire Pakistan, including the players, cricket experts slammed New Zealand for leaving without playing a game and also criticized England for turning their back on their commitment after the ECB cancelled their men’s and women’s tour of Pakistan, citing security concerns in the country.

Briefing the Senate Standing Committee on Inter-Provincial Coordination on Thursday, Raja said the New Zealand cricket board was “now rescheduling the tour” after being pressured by Pakistan. Asked about the tour cancellation, the PCB chief informed the committee that the Kiwi officials didn’t tell him about the nature of the threats, adding that “it’s not our fault”.

He lamented that no one from the cricket fraternity helped Pakistan at its time of need while recalling that they had toured different countries even during the Covid-19 pandemic. The new PCB chief also said that PCB had also written a “strong letter” to the International Cricket Council (ICC) on the matter while saying that a lot of politics was happening at the ICC.

The PCB chairman also said those cricketers who had tarnished the country’s image by being involved in match-fixing should not be included in the team, adding that unfortunately, “our society sides with such cricketers”.

Pakistan team will now be seen in action in the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2021 when they open their account against archrivals India on October 24 in Dubai.

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