Islamabad :
Federal Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid has said that the New Zealand cricket team will leave for Dubai by charter flight RJD232 at 6 pm.
He said that New Zealand postponed its visit to Pakistan due to baseless security concerns. Diplomatic staff from the IMF, World Bank and embassies in Kabul preferred Pakistan for the evacuation.
He added that sports should not be used as scapegoats for anti-Pakistan global agendas.
It may be recalled that during the tour of Pakistan, the board of the New Zealand cricket team announced the cancellation of the series and repatriation on the pretext of sudden security concerns. The first match of the three-match ODI series between Pakistan and New Zealand was scheduled to start at 2.30 pm tomorrow at the Rawalpindi Stadium and Pakistan was ready to host the New Zealand team on its soil after 18 years. Announced the end of the tour and the recall of the team.
Former New Zealand all-rounder Grant Elliott, on the other hand, says the decision to end the tour of Pakistan was wrong. Talking to media, Grant Elliott said that I have also gone to Pakistan to play PSL, we got presidential level security there, I still don’t understand what was the threat in foolproof security, New Zealand cricket. Concerns over the cancellation of the tour by the board were also not made clear. The manner in which the decision was taken is grossly inaccurate. New Zealand cricket should explain why they took this decision. Pakistani people love cricket. The PCB and fans are furious at the New Zealand Cricket Board’s decision.
