Many were anticipating a tightly fought series against the top ranked team in ODI cricket. However, after the Kiwi management pulled out from the series minutes before the contest was due to begin, 18 years of wait ended in vain for Pakistan.
While the New Zealand management cited security reasons saying they had received intel and couldn’t risk player safety, hence the decision to depart Pakistan immediately.
How Did it Unfold?
Murmurs of something being not quite right began gathering pace when the toss delayed. With fans queued up outside the stadium waiting to welcome the players, it was tragic for them when the annoucement of match cancellation was made.
Early reports suggested the step may have been taken due to cvid scare, but later news began to emerge that there was a security threat. Even those reports took a new shape when the news filtered in that the entire tour has been cancelled.
The Prime Minister of Pakistan & the Prime Minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern connected through a phone call. While PM Imran Khan assured of no such threat, the New Zealand Government thought it was safer to abandon the series.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern released a statement in support of the New Zealand Cricket Board:
“When I spoke with the Prime Minister of Pakistan I conveyed our thanks for taking care of the New Zealand Cricket team,” Ardern said in a statement sent to Reuters.
“I know how disappointing it will be for everyone that the game hasn’t gone ahead, but we totally support the decision that’s been made. Player safety has to be paramount.”
What did Cricket Boards Say?
David White, CEO of New Zealand Cricket said while they were satisfied with the security arrangements they believed their decision was justified.
“I understand this will be a blow for the PCB, who have been wonderful hosts, but player safety is paramount and we believe this is the only responsible option.” he said.
Pakistan Cricket Board also publicly announced the tour has indeed been cancelled.
“Earlier today, New Zealand Cricket informed us they had been alerted to some security alert and have unilaterally decided to postpone the series. Pakistan Cricket Board and Pakistan Government made foolproof security arrangements for all visiting teams. We have assured New Zealand Cricket of the same.”
“The security officials with the New Zealand team have been satisfied with security arrangements made by the Pakistan Government throughout their stay here.PCB is willing to continue the scheduled matches. However, cricket lovers in Pakistan and around the world will be disappointed by this last-minute withdrawal.” they said in a statement.
Why New Zealand’s Security Concerns May Ring Hollow.
While the New Zealand team management maybe justified in their decision, the reasons of escalation in threat level or a perceived security threat may ring hollow.
PCB and Pakistan government has worked tooth and nail to provide fool proof security to any visiting team and New Zealand was no exception. Before this abrupt cancellation, Sri Lanka and recently South Africa had toured Pakistan for a full fledged series.
Even PSL was hosted entirely in the country with players praising the exceptional Presidential levels of security provided to them.
The New Zealand government was itself satisfied with security arrangements and the team had participated in training sessions in Rawalpindi in the lead up to the first ODI.
Others have their say
PCB’s new chairman Ramiz Raja said that New Zealand will hear Pakistan at ICC.
Former fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar said New Zealand killed cricket in Pakistan.
Ex All rouder Shahid Afridi also had stern words
Political Conspiracy?
This sudden cancellation of New Zealand’s tour has gotten much attention in Pakistan media. Experts in respective fields have called out conspiracy against Pakistan to defame the nation and isolate its cricket at the international level.
The conspiracy theorists point to various incidents leading up to this event as proof that there is a political agenda against Pakistan to weaken its attempts for full time revival of international cricket in Pakistan.
Afghanistan postpone series against Pakistan.
The series between Pakistan and Afghanistan was part of the ODI World Cup Super League scheduled in the first week of September in Sri Lanka, which was originally set to be hosted at Sharjah. Still, due to IPL’s training sessions, ACB had to shift the matches to Sri Lanka.
Later, ACB expressed their challenges of hosting Pakistan in Sri Lanka due to their government’s policy of imposing a lockdown due to a surge in COVD-19 cases. Interestingly, Sri Lanka themselves went ahead with their home series against South Africa in the same period.
BCCI’s Threats to Foreign Players of KPL 2021,
A private group in Pakistan planned to host a new T20 League in Pakistan to promote the cricket talent in Kashmir called the Kashmir Premier League. The league included 6 retired foreign players who were picked by each franchise on the draft on July 5th.
On the eve of the start of the tournament, the six foreign players were threatened by BCCI that if they participate in the tournam to feature in the KPL 2021.
Unavailability of DRS.
New Zealand tour of Pakistan was important in more ways than one. It was going to be part of ODI World Cup Super League and since Kiwis are ranked number one in ODI’s the stakes were high.
However, on the 9th of September, PCB announced that DRS would not be available in the series. Due to the unavailability of staff to manage the system during the series. Reports suggested that BCCI hired the system operators of DRS for IPL’s UAE leg.
A spokesperson from PCB revealed the following:
“It is not just about the availability of technology. It is also about the availability of people who can use the technology according to the described method. Moreover, is important to have ICC-approved DRS operators in international events and operators were not available during the period, that’s why the PCB has dropped DRS from the series,”
Future of Cricket In Pakistan.
Pakistan cricket fans could be in for another blow as after New Zealand’s withdrawl England Cricket Board said that it will decide on its tour to Pakistan within the next 24-48 hours.
According to Sky Sports, a spokesperson of the ECB on Friday said: “We are aware of New Zealand’s decision to pull out of the Pakistan tour due to a security alert.”
“We are liaising with our security team who are on the ground in Pakistan to fully understand the situation,” the spokesperson said, adding that the ECB Board will then decide in the next 24-48 hours “whether our planned tour should proceed.”
This brings back a cloud of skecptism over Pakistan’s ability to host international cricket once again. England Board’s announcement could’ve severe repercussions on the future of cricket in Pakistan. It is very much possible that English players may withdraw from tour doing more damage to the Pakistani Cricket brand.
While it cannot be said with full authority that there is a conspiracy at international level to subdue Pakistan’s attempts to revive cricket in the country, these events do leave a cloud hanging over Pakistan’s Cricket at home.
If England decide to withdraw from the impending tour of Pakistan it could send Pakistan’s cricket at least 10 years back.