Team News Riveting
Lahore, September 19
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is in a state of shock after New Zealand abruptly called off its tour just before the first of three One-day Internationals was to begin in Rawalpindi on Friday.
The visiting team had cited security threats for the decision that had come as a big jolt to the PCB. Besides the financial losses that would run in millions, the reputation of the PCB had also come under the scanner. “This is a blow to the efforts the PCB, the government and the security agencies have been making to fully restore international cricket in Pakistan,” Dawn quoted PCB officials.
The three ODIs were due to be followed by five Twenty20 Internationals. New Zealand were touring Pakistan for the first time since 2003 and the decision to call it off would cast its shadow on the proposed tour of England. The men’s and women’s teams of England are due in Pakistan for a short two-match T20 series next month. The England Cricket Board said it would take the final decision next month.
The international cricketers refusing to come on Pakistani pitches could also be linked with the development taking place in the neighbouring Afghanistan where Taliban had taken over the regime. Those banned by the International forum would be running the government and Pakistan, as of now, is the only country publicly claiming its support to the militant government.
