PAK v NZ: Blackcaps To Play 'Abandoned' Limited Overs Series During Their Pakistan WTC Tour Next Year

NZC CEO David White said the team has to travel to Pakistan for Test matches in January-February separately. The New Zealand team is likely to play an ODI series on this tour.

New Zealand Abandon Cricket Tour Of Pakistan Minutes Before 1st ODI Citing 'Security Concerns'

The New Zealand Cricket Board (NZC) has expressed hope that the cancelled limited-overs series against Pakistan could be held next year. NZC CEO David White said that the team has to travel to Pakistan for Test matches in January-February, the Blackcaps are likely to play an ODI series during that tour.

New Zealand were scheduled to play their first ODI in Rawalpindi last Friday. The team cancelled the Pakistan tour hours before the start of the match citing security threats. The team had to play three ODIs and five T20 Internationals on this tour.

"I'm sure we will take time out for the ODI series in the next tour of Pakistan," White said on 'SEN' radio programme 'Mornings with Ian Smith'.

"We are going to Pakistan to play two Test matches under the World Test Championship in January-February next year. We can also play some ODI matches on or around this tour," he said.

However, on the abrupt looking decision of abandoning the tour, White reiterated that he had no choice.

"The Pakistan Cricket Board is amazing and professional. We will work with them in the coming weeks and months to fulfill our responsibilities. We have to play five ODIs and three T20 against them,'' he said.

"It is really disappointing for Pakistan cricket, but unfortunately we had no choice but to leave the tour," White added. 

"I was at home and we received a report of a threat to the team's security from a government agency on Friday afternoon," White informed.

"I contacted the person responsible for the team's security in Pakistan at three in the morning (according to Pakistan time). With this, we also collected information on the ground level and from other independent sources. New Zealand government agencies said that a specific threat has been reported against the team," he mentioned during the 'SEN' radio programme. 

White added, "After that, we started working on a plan to get out of there and now the players are safe in Dubai. Where our players have stayed, two teams of IPL have also stayed there."