Townsville Bulletin

England set to call off tour of Pakistan

-

ENGLAND’S tour to Pakistan next month appears set to be cancelled, after New Zealand cited a “security alert” while withdrawin­g from its limitedove­rs series there shortly before the scheduled start of the opening match.

England was due to tour Pakistan for the first time in 16 years, with the men’s team scheduled to play two T20 matches in Rawalpindi and the women’s team two T20s – as double-headers with the men’s games – and three one-day internatio­nals, but they all now seem likely to be cancelled.

The ECB said on Saturday that it would make a final decision within 48 hours on whether the tour should go ahead.

The England squads had been due to arrive in Islamabad on October 9, with the men’s team flying to the United Arab Emirates for the T20 World Cup after the two T20s on October 13 and 14.

New Zealand’s eight-match series, comprising five T20s and three ODIS, had been due to get under way in Rawalpindi on Saturday, but both teams remained in their hotel rooms, before confirmati­on of the abandonmen­t came through just as the toss for the first ODI had been due to take place.

“The Black Caps are abandoning their tour after a New Zealand government security alert,” a statement from New Zealand Cricket (NZC) read.

“The side was to play Pakistan in the first of three ODIS in Rawalpindi before moving to Lahore for a five-match T20 series. However, 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.”

Although the tour was assessed as being safe before the arrival of the New Zealand team, it is understood that intelligen­ce received in recent days prompted the country’s government to change its threat-level assessment for Pakistan and it advised the touring party to leave as soon as possible. It is understood that NZC has shared the intelligen­ce and there are discussion­s going on among the security agencies on the ground and with the British High Commission in Islamabad.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Australia