Pakistan stunned as NZ abandon tourSECURITY ALERT: Pakistan captain Babar Azam expressed his disappointment, while former bowler Shoaib Akhtar wrote on Twitter: ‘NZ just killed Pakistan cricket’AP, RAWALPINDI, PakistanNew Zealand yesterday abandoned their cricket tour of Pakistan over security concerns that mystified the hosts, just before the Black Caps’ first scheduled match in Pakistan in 18 years. “Following an escalation in the New Zealand government threat levels for Pakistan, and advice from NZC security advisers on the ground, it has been decided the Black Caps will not continue with the tour,” NZC said on its Web site. NZC chief executive David White said the advice he received made the tour impossible to continue and he was supported by the New Zealand Cricket Players Association. Pakistan was a no-go zone for international cricket teams for a decade after terrorists attacked the Sri Lanka team bus in Lahore in 2009. The ambush killed seven people and injured several Sri Lanka cricketers, including Thilan Samaraweera, who is among the New Zealand tour management as batting coach.

Source: Taipei Times September 17, 2021 15:56 UTC