Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chief Executive (CEO) Wasim Khan said the New Zealand government had received a "direct" threat alert to his team from the visiting Pakistan intelligence group 'Five Eyes'. Ended on
In a virtual conversation with reporters, PCB CEO Wasim Khan said that New Zealand had set a wrong precedent by ending its visit unilaterally.
"The last 48 hours have been very difficult for Pakistan cricket and we want to bring some facts to light," he said.
"At 3am on Friday, I got a call from Rigg Dickinson, the head of ESI Security, a New Zealand security consultant, and he said, 'A report was submitted to the New Zealand government with the help of their government security agencies. And it was said that the New Zealand team is in danger and that danger is direct on a certain day.
Wasim Khan said he then reached Lahore and met with Dickinson for further clarification. '
The Five Eyes is an intelligence alliance comprising Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States.
The PCB CEO said that New Zealand refused to provide details about this security threat to us or our security agencies despite being asked to do so. "When we contacted our security agencies, they made it clear that there was no security threat to the visiting team," he said.
Criticizing New Zealand's decision, he said that when you are on a visit, the security agencies there are trusted, the unilateral decision to end the visit has set a very wrong precedent.
He said that this decision would affect the relations between the two boards and would have far-reaching consequences, although the players and security representatives of the New Zealand team in Pakistan had expressed confidence in our security.
"Our boys quarantined for 14 days in New Zealand and went there despite the mosque attack, but it is clear to everyone that decisions are not being made on the basis of equality," he said.
"We have worked hard for the complete restoration of international cricket for the last five years and I and the chairman will take up the matter with the PCB International Cricket Council (ICC)," Wasim Khan said.
Talking to reporters, he said that the PCB had contacted Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in the last 24 hours and offered them to play a bilateral series in Pakistan using the arrangements made for the series with New Zealand.
He said that both the countries had agreed but it was not possible due to lack of time and logistical problems.
He said that England has to decide about coming to Pakistan today, hopefully they will come to Pakistan.
"Right now our position is that we will play our home cricket in Pakistan. You can see the comments from players and commentators around the world that it is very dangerous to make a sudden and unilateral decision," he said.
Wasim Khan said that reputation is more important to us than financial loss, it is unfortunate that our reputation has been damaged by this unilateral decision.
"I think New Zealand should have held talks with Pakistan so that a joint decision could be taken," he said.
It may be recalled that on Friday, New Zealand had announced the cancellation of the tour due to security threat just moments before the first one-day match of the series at Pindi Cricket Stadium.
The New Zealand Cricket Board had confirmed the cancellation of the tour, saying that the Black Caps had canceled their tour of Pakistan following a security alert issued by the New Zealand government.
The statement said: "Following the escalation of security concerns received by the New Zealand government in Pakistan and the advice of New Zealand security advisers, it has been decided that the Black Caps will not continue the tour." Arrangements are being made.
"Given the suggestions we have received, it is not possible to continue this tour," said New Zealand Cricket chief executive David White.
"I think it will be a blow to the PCB, which has been a great host, but the safety of the players is paramount and we believe it is the only option," he said.
The PCB said in a statement that "the New Zealand Cricket Board has informed that it has received a security alert and has therefore decided to unilaterally postpone the series."
The statement said: "The Pakistan Cricket Board and the government of Pakistan had made foolproof arrangements for the security of the visiting team. We had assured the New Zealand Cricket Board of the same and the Prime Minister personally visited New Zealand. "Our security intelligence is one of the best in the world and there is no security threat to the visiting team," he said.
The New Zealand cricket team arrived in Pakistan on September 11 after 18 years and the tour was scheduled for three ODIs and five T20I matches.
The one-day series between Pakistan and New Zealand was scheduled to be played at the Pindi Stadium in Rawalpindi on September 17, 19 and 21, while the T20 series was scheduled at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore from September 25 to October 3.
