BlackCaps abandon tour to Pakistan following a New Zealand government security alert

[Aman]

Newshub summary:

NZ haven't left country yet, organizing their departure with officials.

Adern was told there was a risk of the NZ team being attacked once they left the hotel.

GCSB official confirmed it was a significant enough risk to take action and their security agencies threat had changed in the last few days.

NZ website for travel lists Pakistan as an unsafe country with future terrorist attacks expected.

 

[saeedhk]

There is massive outrage against NZ on TV and social media; people are seething! We, as a country, need to accept the ground reality that Pakistan is an unsafe place where foreigners are targeted frequently.

 

[ahsan17]

There is massive outrage against NZ on TV and social media; people are seething! We, as a country, need to accept the ground reality that Pakistan is an unsafe place where foreigners are targeted frequently.

Not sure how much one can have their head up their own rear. What evidence is there that foreigners are frequently targeted? To be clear, frequently doesn't mean some isolated incident.

 

[Aman]

There is massive outrage against NZ on TV and social media; people are seething! We, as a country, need to accept the ground reality that Pakistan is an unsafe place where foreigners are targeted frequently.

Directly from government agencies, I heard this was updated 3.5 hours before the tour was called off so maybe these additions are new.

 

[jaf348]

NZ is part of the five eyes alliance and has access to intelligence data gathered by the likes of the CIA or MI6. These are the same agencies recently that recently warned of a very specific threat at Kabul airport just days prior to the deadly suicide bombing so appropriate action as they saw fit had to be taken.

Lastly there is no such thing as fool proof security. When Zimbabwe were the first team to tour in 2015, despite presidential level security there was a bomb blast near the Gaddafi stadium prior to the game. Local officials initially claimed it was a electrical transformer fault and allowed the game to go ahead and only later admitted to being an attack. No surprises this received no coverage on Pakistani media.

 

[ahsan17]

Directly from government agencies, I heard this was updated 3.5 hours before the tour was called off so maybe these additions are new.

This is hilarious given other countries like UK and US have improved their travel advisories in the recent past. I suppose anyone can now make up any travel advisory and pretend that's a genuine reason to call of a tour.

 

[saeedhk]

Not sure how much one can have their head up their own rear. What evidence is there that foreigners are frequently targeted? To be clear, frequently doesn't mean some isolated incident.

At least three terror attacks in last two weeks including a suicide attack in Quetta couples with the weekly attacks on Chinese engineers. Just three weeks back, 9 Chinese were killed! Are these isolated?

 

[saeedhk]

Directly from government agencies, I heard this was updated 3.5 hours before the tour was called off so maybe these additions are new.

I have said this many times; we despise accepting the ground realities and we lie to ourselves!

 

[saeedhk]

‘Pakistan is the safest country and a beacon of peace,’ Interior Minister.

Our IM is a reflection of our public; delusional as always!

 

[Aman]

‘Pakistan is the safest country and a beacon of peace,’ Interior Minister.

Our IM is a reflection of our public; delusional as always!

Some of these gross exaggerations have really made me

One foreign cricketer said Pakistan is the safest place to play cricket

 

[Aman]

This is hilarious given other countries like UK and US have improved their travel advisories in the recent past. I suppose anyone can now make up any travel advisory and pretend that's a genuine reason to call of a tour.

The sentence to take note of is "We continue to receive information that terrorist groups are planning attacks in Pakistan, including against Western targets".

I hope this answers some Pakistani's questions, without a full clarification, you can pick up what has happened with the brief pieces of information that has been circulated in the media and on official government websites.

 

[ahsan17]

NZ is part of the five eyes alliance and has access to intelligence data gathered by the likes of the CIA or MI6. These are the same agencies recently that recently warned of a very specific threat at Kabul airport just days prior to the deadly suicide bombing so appropriate action as they saw fit had to be taken.

!. You are comparing Taliban intelligence services to Pakistan's own intelligence services, the latter of which has become significantly better in the recent past on terrorism, and the former one doesn't exist.
2. The specific threat hasn't been mentioned. It doesn't need to be mentioned how the intelligence was obtained, but rather the nature of the threat.
3. We all saw how this intelligence gathering led to 10 innocent people getting vaporized. So at best it's 50% accurate and at worst a lot worse than that.

Lastly there is no such thing as fool proof security. When Zimbabwe were the first team to tour in 2015, despite presidential level security there was a bomb blast near the Gaddafi stadium prior to the game. Local officials initially claimed it was a electrical transformer fault and allowed the game to go ahead and only later admitted to being an attack. No surprises this received no coverage on Pakistani media.

Did anything happen to any player? On top of that, why did you not mention the numerous other tours and PSL games that have happened since?

 

[ahsan17]

At least three terror attacks in last two weeks including a suicide attack in Quetta couples with the weekly attacks on Chinese engineers. Just three weeks back, 9 Chinese were killed! Are these isolated?

What weekly attacks on Chinese engineers are you talking about? Your timeline is also off, and the 9 Chinese engineers was 2 months back.

On top of that, nearly all attacks have happened in Balochistan and we know there's a security problem there. Outside of Balochistan they are indeed rare and isolated.

 

[saeedhk]

!. You are comparing Taliban intelligence services to Pakistan's own intelligence services, the latter of which has become significantly better in the recent past on terrorism, and the former one doesn't exist.
2. The specific threat hasn't been mentioned. It doesn't need to be mentioned how the intelligence was obtained, but rather the nature of the threat.
3. We all saw how this intelligence gathering led to 10 innocent people getting vaporized. So at best it's 50% accurate and at worst a lot worse than that.



Did anything happen to any player? On top of that, why did you not mention the numerous other tours and PSL games that have happened since?

Why do you keep changing the goal post? From Pakistan is safe to nobody was hurt in the bomb. Remarkable mental gymnastics!

 

[ahsan17]

The sentence to take note of is "We continue to receive information that terrorist groups are planning attacks in Pakistan, including against Western targets".

I hope this answers some Pakistani's questions, without a full clarification, you can pick up what has happened with the brief pieces of information that has been circulated in the media and on official government websites.

Which western target has actually been attacked? If Pakistan is able to successfully able to stop all these supposed attempts, then this whole crap is moot. There are tons of western vloggers that have visited Pakistan in the recent past. The targets are there if terrorists want them.

 

[saeedhk]

What weekly attacks on Chinese engineers are you talking about? Your timeline is also off, and the 9 Chinese engineers was 2 months back.

On top of that, nearly all attacks have happened in Balochistan and we know there's a security problem there. Outside of Balochistan they are indeed rare and isolated.

Nope. Another suicide attack against Chinese 3 weeks back in Balouchistan. It seems like you do not even know what is happening in Pakistan. And, there was another attack on Chinese in Karachi.

Balouchistan is a part of Pakistan which means Pakistan is an unsafe place.

 

[ahsan17]

Why do you keep changing the goal post? From Pakistan is safe to nobody was hurt in the bomb. Remarkable mental gymnastics!

There's no goal post changing here because safe doesn't mean there will be zero attacks, just that they are rare or uncommon. Or are you ready to call NZ, UK or US unsafe too?

 

[Usman Chadda]

I have said this many times; we despise accepting the ground realities and we lie to ourselves!

Didn’t know we were consistently playing cricket in Balochistan.

Ever lived in Pakistan yourself?

 

[saeedhk]

Didn’t know we were consistently playing cricket in Balochistan.

Ever lived in Pakistan yourself?

I have lives in Pakistan for years! The gist is that Balouchistan is a part of Pakistan. Make is safe and then you have a point! Add Waziristan and Karachi to the list too!

 

[ahsan17]

Nope. Another suicide attack against Chinese 3 weeks back in Balouchistan. It seems like you do not even know what is happening in Pakistan. And, there was another attack on Chinese in Karachi.

Please send link to the attacks you are talking about. I know the attacks you are talking about and your own memory is off.

Balouchistan is a part of Pakistan which means Pakistan is an unsafe place.

So your logic is to take the worst common denominator. By that logic, Chicago, Detroit, Baltimore, Compton etc are all in US so US is an unsafe place. You clearly have some vendetta up your rear with Pakistan.

 

[saeedhk]

There's no goal post changing here because safe doesn't mean there will be zero attacks, just that they are rare or uncommon. Or are you ready to call NZ, UK or US unsafe too?

They are a million times safer! Compare number of terror attacks from them to our beloved country!

 

[ahsan17]

Directly from government agencies, I heard this was updated 3.5 hours before the tour was called off so maybe these additions are new.

I mentioned this before but it appeared to me like there was no specific threat, but rather NZ just downgraded the travel advisory and that's why they are calling off the tour. This seems to be more like the case now.

 

[saeedhk]

Please send link to the attacks you are talking about. I know the attacks you are talking about and your own memory is off.



So your logic is to take the worst common denominator. By that logic, Chicago, Detroit, Baltimore, Compton etc are all in US so US is an unsafe place. You clearly have some vendetta up your rear with Pakistan.

Here is the link:

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-...l-roadside-attack-chinese-embassy-2021-08-21/

 

[ahsan17]

They are a million times safer! Compare number of terror attacks from them to our beloved country!

Yes, we have a few isolated attacks. Maybe 1 major one I can recall in the last 12 months outside of Balochistan. There have been a couple small ones. So my point still stands.

 

[ahsan17]

Here is the link:

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-...l-roadside-attack-chinese-embassy-2021-08-21/

So where are 9 Chinese engineers killed 3 weeks ago?

 

[saeedhk]

So where are 9 Chinese engineers killed 3 weeks ago?

No. But there were attacked in a SUICIDE BOMBING! This is what we call an unsafe place!

 

[jaf348]

Did anything happen to any player? On top of that, why did you not mention the numerous other tours and PSL games that have happened since?

A policeman was martyred but as you know that received little to not coverage so as to not jeopardise the return of cricket and revenue that came with it. Pakistan has done well since then to successfully host games.

 

[Energy]

Anyone defending NZC action is either taking advantage of entitlement, or has a defeatist attitude.

It was a unilateral decision, and no evidence has been shared across the boards. Neither has there been any security breach. NZC were being kept in a safe environment and were going on about their business normally for a week until this fiasco.

Now, you may argue that Pakistan's standing in the eyes of the world is much lower than NZ. But that does not give justification to embarrass Pakistan at any opportunity. It's unethical.

For Pakistan, I hope this motivates the players do exceed expectations at the World T20.

 

[OneManShow]

Nope. Another suicide attack against Chinese 3 weeks back in Balouchistan. It seems like you do not even know what is happening in Pakistan. And, there was another attack on Chinese in Karachi.

Balouchistan is a part of Pakistan which means Pakistan is an unsafe place.

Flip flopping, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, make your blooming mind up. Your insincerity is clear for most to see

 

[OneManShow]

So where are 9 Chinese engineers killed 3 weeks ago?

Balochistan - fuelled by external influences. You make it sound like Pindi, ISB and Lahore are unsafe when nothing could be further from the truth

 

[Usman Chadda]

I have lives in Pakistan for years! The gist is that Balouchistan is a part of Pakistan. Make is safe and then you have a point! Add Waziristan and Karachi to the list too!

I dont think you know the ground realities in Pakistan. Correlating Waziristan and Karachi drives home that point even further.

If I had to guess, you might be abroad at the moment and haven’t been to Pakistan in quite a while.

 

[ahsan17]

Balochistan - fuelled by external influences. You make it sound like Pindi, ISB and Lahore are unsafe when nothing could be further from the truth

You misread. I was asking for the news on the 9 Chinese engineers. He keeps saying 2 weeks of 3 weeks, when that in fact happened mid July. Also one of the new incidents outside of Balochistan. I agree Pindi, Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi are safe.

 

[saeedhk]

You misread. I was asking for the news on the 9 Chinese engineers. He keeps saying 2 weeks of 3 weeks, when that in fact happened mid July. Also one of the new incidents outside of Balochistan. I agree Pindi, Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi are safe.

I gave you the link. The attack happened on 21st August.

 

[saeedhk]

I dont think you know the ground realities in Pakistan. Correlating Waziristan and Karachi drives home that point even further.

If I had to guess, you might be abroad at the moment and haven’t been to Pakistan in quite a while.

They all are in the same country! Get rid of all militants and then you will have a point.

 

[saeedhk]

Balochistan - fuelled by external influences. You make it sound like Pindi, ISB and Lahore are unsafe when nothing could be further from the truth

All of these places are part of Pakistan. You never know when will some bazooka-wielding militants show up and try to blow up crickters.

 

[ahsan17]

All of these places are part of Pakistan. You never know when will some bazooka-wielding militants show up and try to blow up crickters.

So Pakistan is the first country to have specific dangerous areas. Go on.

 

[seether1]

There is massive outrage against NZ on TV and social media; people are seething! We, as a country, need to accept the ground reality that Pakistan is an unsafe place where foreigners are targeted frequently.

I live in NZ, what you are saying is absolutely false. wasn't even the main news story yesterday or today. Ive seen you post before, you need to like go outside and smell the grass. this keyboard warrior thing you got going on isn't working. go enjoy life go watch a Bollywood movie.

 

[saeedhk]

I live in NZ, what you are saying is absolutely false. wasn't even the main news story yesterday or today. Ive seen you post before, you need to like go outside and smell the grass. this keyboard warrior thing you got going on isn't working. go enjoy life go watch a Bollywood movie.

I am talking about Pakistani TV and social media. Have a look!

 

[saeedhk]

So Pakistan is the first country to have specific dangerous areas. Go on.

Tell that to the Kiwis.

 

[Space Cat]

Seems like there was a threat specific to the NZ touring party. Which is quite scary as a NZ fan. Hopefully some specifics are released but it came through five eyes so who knows if it can be made public.

It really sucks but safety is more important than cricket at the end of the day. I was really looking forward to seeing us play in Pakistan after soo long.

There is a lot of upset and emotional Pakistan fans but i hope they can understand NZC was put in a position where it had no choice.

 

[MenInG]

The New Zealand team will fly out of Pakistan in a chartered flight on Saturday, even as the cricket community is fuming over the sudden and unilateral decision of the visitors to abandon the tour due to a security threat. Pakistan Cricket Board CEO Wasim Khan confirmed that a chartered flight will be coming on Saturday to take the New Zealand team.

“It is a very sad thing that has happened today," Khan said. The cricketing world and Pakistanis were left shocked on Friday after just minutes before the start of the first One-Day International between the two teams at the Pindi stadium, New Zealand Cricket CEO David White announced that they were calling their team back after receiving advice of a serious security threat.

But PCB Chairman, Ramiz Raja and Federal Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed both said that the New Zealand board had not shared the security threat report with them. Not surprisingly, Pakistan’s cricket community was fuming and some former stalwarts waded into New Zealand for causing untold harm to Pakistan cricket.

The Pakistan government and security officials are understandably upset at Friday’s development as besides 4000 policemen, commandos of the Pakistan Army’s Special Services Group (SSG) were also deployed for the matches in Rawalpindi. The interior minister said at a press conference that they had even tried to convince New Zealand to play the match without spectators. “But they did not agree to it," he disclosed.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, however, said in a statement that nothing was paramount than the safety of players. She said she could understand the disappointment in Pakistan but the security threat was such that it could not be ignored.

England men’s and women’s teams are now due to tour Pakistan in October.

https://www.news18.com/cricketnext/...flight-after-abandoning-tour-pcb-4215737.html

 

[OMB]

The New Zealand team will fly out of Pakistan in a chartered flight on Saturday, even as the cricket community is fuming over the sudden and unilateral decision of the visitors to abandon the tour due to a security threat. Pakistan Cricket Board CEO Wasim Khan confirmed that a chartered flight will be coming on Saturday to take the New Zealand team.

“It is a very sad thing that has happened today," Khan said. The cricketing world and Pakistanis were left shocked on Friday after just minutes before the start of the first One-Day International between the two teams at the Pindi stadium, New Zealand Cricket CEO David White announced that they were calling their team back after receiving advice of a serious security threat.

But PCB Chairman, Ramiz Raja and Federal Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed both said that the New Zealand board had not shared the security threat report with them. Not surprisingly, Pakistan’s cricket community was fuming and some former stalwarts waded into New Zealand for causing untold harm to Pakistan cricket.

The Pakistan government and security officials are understandably upset at Friday’s development as besides 4000 policemen, commandos of the Pakistan Army’s Special Services Group (SSG) were also deployed for the matches in Rawalpindi. The interior minister said at a press conference that they had even tried to convince New Zealand to play the match without spectators. “But they did not agree to it," he disclosed.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, however, said in a statement that nothing was paramount than the safety of players. She said she could understand the disappointment in Pakistan but the security threat was such that it could not be ignored.

England men’s and women’s teams are now due to tour Pakistan in October.

https://www.news18.com/cricketnext/...flight-after-abandoning-tour-pcb-4215737.html

well. so its finished then.
Worse thing to do is to make the cricketing relations not any more ascerbic

 

[OMB]

Cricket: NZ great Glenn Turner 'astonished' Black Caps were allowed to tour Pakistan

New Zealand cricket great Glenn Turner is "astonished" the Black Caps embarked on their Pakistan tour given concerns about player safety and Covid-19.

The Black Caps' tour of Pakistan - the team's first in 18 years - was abandoned last night moments before the first of three one-day internationals in Rawalpindi, because of security concerns.

New Zealand Cricket later announced the players would be returning home.

Former test captain Turner, a veteran of 41 tests and the same number of ODIs, says he has long had concerns about the safety of the cricketers in Pakistan, and on Saturday told the Herald his fears had been proven right.

In an open letter last month, Turner questioned NZC's decision to send a team to Pakistan, saying the country "is not only Covid-19 ravaged... but even more concerning are the developments of Taliban successes in neighbouring Afghanistan".

"At the end of that [letter] I said we can only hope this fear turns out to be benign, but it hasn't been," Turner, who was also a national selector, told the Herald.

"I was astonished actually that NZ Cricket would allow that to occur in the first instance."

They had not toured Pakistan since 2003 because of security concerns in the country, after their 2002 test series was abandoned when a bomb exploded outside the team hotel in Karachi.

Last month, NZC chief executive David White issued a statement saying they were "very much looking forward" to returning to Pakistan for the start of the home international season.

No international team had travelled to the country for over a decade after the 2009 terror attack in Lahore that killed seven people and injured several Sri Lankan cricketers.

Play Video
New Zealand was preparing to face Pakistan in the first ODI amid tight security protocols at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Video / SNTV via AP
Last night White issued a statement saying it was "simply not possible" to continue with the tour given the information he was receiving from on-the-ground security advisers.

Separate from the precarious situation in neighbouring Afghanistan, Turner said he did not believe the Black Caps should have toured during the pandemic.

"I think the sporting world generally needs to do what the rest of us are doing, sitting this Covid thing out for starters instead of rushing to go overseas and continuing," he said.

"Why can't sportspeople go on $600 a week like the rest of the workforces around the place during lockdowns?"

"New Zealand Cricket and other sports bodies it seems are so geared to cover their costs that they'll risk sending their teams around the world and all the complications that come with it."

With the situation in Afghanistan and media reports of possible attacks on the players, Turner said it had "seemed a no-brainer" to sit the tour out.

"I was hoping it wouldn't happen, and it could've been much worse," he said.

"You can try to put as much security around a group of people as you like but at the end of the day how successful can you guarantee to be?"

He hoped the team could get out of Pakistan easily and safely.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/cricket-nz-great-glenn-turner-astonished-black-caps-were-allowed-to-tour-pakistan/I5JYBN6PC7VJIQGNXNR3ZBZTYQ/

 

[UzmanBeast]

Seems like there was a threat specific to the NZ touring party. Which is quite scary as a NZ fan. Hopefully some specifics are released but it came through five eyes so who knows if it can be made public.

It really sucks but safety is more important than cricket at the end of the day. I was really looking forward to seeing us play in Pakistan after soo long.

There is a lot of upset and emotional Pakistan fans but i hope they can understand NZC was put in a position where it had no choice.

There was no choice to continue playing, but there was a choice as to how the situation was handled.

You don't need to disgrace the cricket board and country that has tried to host you by not sharing resources, keeping them in the dark, and keeping them out of the decision-making process.

NZ needed to show some trust in Pakistan, not to play the series (I agree that it would be ludicrous to play), but there could have been a much better way of handling this which people keep trying to ignore.

Not only did New Zealand's decision to call off the tour in the manner that they did strike fear into people around the world about the safety measures in Pakistan, it also dented future prospects of tours in Pakistan, and made our security intelligence organizations look inept.

The fact that no evidence has been shared is alarming, it will be even more alarming if none is shared even after New Zealand's departure.

Nobody is calling out New Zealand for leaving, please understand that we know the value of human lives as well. We are not some crude, rudimentary society incapable of understanding the value of human lives.

A joint statement where both parties agreed to postpone the series would have been much better and much easier to cope with.

Once you leave room for speculation, you are inviting and in fact creating the worst possible situation for the people that have to deal with the mess.

So yes, Pakistan should understand NZC but the reverse should also be done. And frankly, I don't see anyone asking to sympathize with the PCB because it's quite clear that the reputation created by this event has rendered the situation, sentiments, and viewpoint of the PCB as being meaningless.

People will praise the New Zealand team for escaping a threat, but will not care to look back at what could have been handled differently to prevent something from damaging Pakistan Cricket to the extent that this event has done.

 

[UzmanBeast]

Cricket: NZ great Glenn Turner 'astonished' Black Caps were allowed to tour Pakistan

New Zealand cricket great Glenn Turner is "astonished" the Black Caps embarked on their Pakistan tour given concerns about player safety and Covid-19.

The Black Caps' tour of Pakistan - the team's first in 18 years - was abandoned last night moments before the first of three one-day internationals in Rawalpindi, because of security concerns.

New Zealand Cricket later announced the players would be returning home.

Former test captain Turner, a veteran of 41 tests and the same number of ODIs, says he has long had concerns about the safety of the cricketers in Pakistan, and on Saturday told the Herald his fears had been proven right.

In an open letter last month, Turner questioned NZC's decision to send a team to Pakistan, saying the country "is not only Covid-19 ravaged... but even more concerning are the developments of Taliban successes in neighbouring Afghanistan".

"At the end of that [letter] I said we can only hope this fear turns out to be benign, but it hasn't been," Turner, who was also a national selector, told the Herald.

"I was astonished actually that NZ Cricket would allow that to occur in the first instance."

They had not toured Pakistan since 2003 because of security concerns in the country, after their 2002 test series was abandoned when a bomb exploded outside the team hotel in Karachi.

Last month, NZC chief executive David White issued a statement saying they were "very much looking forward" to returning to Pakistan for the start of the home international season.

No international team had travelled to the country for over a decade after the 2009 terror attack in Lahore that killed seven people and injured several Sri Lankan cricketers.

Play Video
New Zealand was preparing to face Pakistan in the first ODI amid tight security protocols at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Video / SNTV via AP
Last night White issued a statement saying it was "simply not possible" to continue with the tour given the information he was receiving from on-the-ground security advisers.

Separate from the precarious situation in neighbouring Afghanistan, Turner said he did not believe the Black Caps should have toured during the pandemic.

"I think the sporting world generally needs to do what the rest of us are doing, sitting this Covid thing out for starters instead of rushing to go overseas and continuing," he said.

"Why can't sportspeople go on $600 a week like the rest of the workforces around the place during lockdowns?"

"New Zealand Cricket and other sports bodies it seems are so geared to cover their costs that they'll risk sending their teams around the world and all the complications that come with it."

With the situation in Afghanistan and media reports of possible attacks on the players, Turner said it had "seemed a no-brainer" to sit the tour out.

"I was hoping it wouldn't happen, and it could've been much worse," he said.

"You can try to put as much security around a group of people as you like but at the end of the day how successful can you guarantee to be?"

He hoped the team could get out of Pakistan easily and safely.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/cricket-nz-great-glenn-turner-astonished-black-caps-were-allowed-to-tour-pakistan/I5JYBN6PC7VJIQGNXNR3ZBZTYQ/

I hope he kept these same viewpoints when the attack on Christchurch happened and the fact that Pakistan toured New Zealand during the peak of COVID (and got COVID cases on the team).

A shallow-minded individual.

 

[Space Cat]

There was no choice to continue playing, but there was a choice as to how the situation was handled.

You don't need to disgrace the cricket board and country that has tried to host you by not sharing resources, keeping them in the dark, and keeping them out of the decision-making process.

NZ needed to show some trust in Pakistan, not to play the series (I agree that it would be ludicrous to play), but there could have been a much better way of handling this which people keep trying to ignore.

Not only did New Zealand's decision to call off the tour in the manner that they did strike fear into people around the world about the safety measures in Pakistan, it also dented future prospects of tours in Pakistan, and made our security intelligence organizations look inept.

The fact that no evidence has been shared is alarming, it will be even more alarming if none is shared even after New Zealand's departure.

Nobody is calling out New Zealand for leaving, please understand that we know the value of human lives as well. We are not some crude, rudimentary society incapable of understanding the value of human lives.

A joint statement where both parties agreed to postpone the series would have been much better and much easier to cope with.

Once you leave room for speculation, you are inviting and in fact creating the worst possible situation for the people that have to deal with the mess.

So yes, Pakistan should understand NZC but the reverse should also be done. And frankly, I don't see anyone asking to sympathize with the PCB because it's quite clear that the reputation created by this event has rendered the situation, sentiments, and viewpoint of the PCB as being meaningless.

People will praise the New Zealand team for escaping a threat, but will not care to look back at what could have been handled differently to prevent something from damaging Pakistan Cricket to the extent that this event has done.

You make very valid points. Perhaps things could of been handled differently but since no details are public yet i cant really say because it may have that sudden. There is plenty of cricket fans here in NZ waiting for more details too.

NZC has nothing to gain by slighting PCB, nothing at all. We had full intention of touring and coming back again soon for tests. The NZ governments motives i cant speak on however. Cricket does not factor into foreign policy.

 

[UzmanBeast]

You make very valid points. Perhaps things could of been handled differently but since no details are public yet i cant really say because it may have that sudden. There is plenty of cricket fans here in NZ waiting for more details too.

NZC has nothing to gain by slighting PCB, nothing at all. We had full intention of touring and coming back again soon for tests. The NZ governments motives i cant speak on however. Cricket does not factor into foreign policy.

I expect that the New Zealand team will have left Pakistan by now.

If information is not shared after their departure, I will assume that this was a political move that was intertwined with sports.

This also tracks to Tim Paine speaking about Afghanistan as an example of the sport becoming heavily politicized.

New Zealand perhaps have no political reason to do this, so they are probably following the influence of some other larger group of nations.

Just speculations but again, that's all we can do.

 

[globalcitizen]

Don't you think 4000 police officers and army guarding the players is itself a problem? Players are in a situation where they feel safe and unsafe at the same time.

Pakistan has to decide now. This will have future ramifications.

 

[Space Cat]

I expect that the New Zealand team will have left Pakistan by now.

If information is not shared after their departure, I will assume that this was a political move that was intertwined with sports.

This also tracks to Tim Paine speaking about Afghanistan as an example of the sport becoming heavily politicized.

New Zealand perhaps have no political reason to do this, so they are probably following the influence of some other larger group of nations.

Just speculations but again, that's all we can do.

I dont imagine any direct motive for the NZ government as there is no real gain. However you certainly can't rule out indirect influence by other parties. We used to kick the US in the shins and bark like a harmless but fiesty chihuahua at attempts to interfere but things have changed.

 

[UzmanBeast]

I dont imagine any direct motive for the NZ government as there is no real gain. However you certainly can't rule out indirect influence by other parties. We used to kick the US in the shins and bark like a harmless but fiesty chihuahua at attempts to interfere but things have changed.

Cricket is perhaps going to get a reality check from political tensions.

Will SENA play with Afghanistan as well? They have made their intentions clear, especially CA.

Dark days lie ahead for world cricket.

 

[Space Cat]

Cricket is perhaps going to get a reality check from political tensions.

Will SENA play with Afghanistan as well? They have made their intentions clear, especially CA.

Dark days lie ahead for world cricket.

Unfortunately with now almost universal media access across the world, things are heading down a dark path for not just sport but life in general. Everything in modern life is slowly being forced into one side or another. Even a politically neutral country like NZ i am seeing disturbing trend of left and right ideals becoming starkly defined. Social media is worse than any virus.

 

[UzmanBeast]

Unfortunately with now almost universal media access across the world, things are heading down a dark path for not just sport but life in general. Everything in modern life is slowly being forced into one side or another. Even a politically neutral country like NZ i am seeing disturbing trend of left and right ideals becoming starkly defined. Social media is worse than any virus.

Not just social media, but the general state of life at the moment.

People can get excluded from just about anything based on political viewpoints. It's important to be careful nowadays of what one says, because there are plenty of people out there who would disagree, and would go to extreme ends to do just that.

Internet censorship is another thing; governments hiding things they don't want their citizens to see or if it conflicts with political ideals.

There are countries where if you say something about the leadership, you can easily get found and possibly killed.

I have a bad feeling about the WT20.

You've got a few tensions already:

Pakistan and India
Pakistan and Afghanistan
Australia and Afghanistan
Pakistan and New Zealand
South Africa and Australia

There are probably more that I'm forgetting, but things seem way too politicized for a sports event to occur. At least there aren't fans allowed in stadiums, otherwise, who knows what could happen (Pakistan and Afghanistan fans at CWC19 were a prime example).

 

[Flat_Track_Bully]

If you have any self respect, don't tour NZ for 10 years at least or ever.

 

[Rana]

If you have any self respect, don't tour NZ for 10 years at least or ever.

Wouldn’t mind that tbh

Maybe we can still keep our decent record against them in tact until they decide to fall in line

 

[globalcitizen]

Cricket is perhaps going to get a reality check from political tensions.

Will SENA play with Afghanistan as well? They have made their intentions clear, especially CA.

Dark days lie ahead for world cricket.

CA is right to protest against gender inequality in Afghanistan by refusing to play against them. This was not case even 2 months, its clear Afghanistan was on path of development previously and now infested by extremists and their ideologies supported by likewise countries.

 

[Joseph Gomes]

Cricket will never be separated from politics again

Maybe it did in 1990s (don't know, wasn't around). But fact is, since 9/11, everything in the world has been increasingly politicized. There is cancel culture which is basically a modern day witch hunt. The US government has destabilized several regions on Earth since 9/11 by supporting various rebel/militant factions to disastrous results. And now there's cold war between US and China which affects not just trade, but movies too. Heck, even the West is becoming radicalized with people splitting into left and right wing. I am Canadian and we are seeing people here becoming mad dogs (some were throwing stones at Justin Trudeau during election campaign for god's sake ).


This is a very bitter world, and the general public themselves are politicized and polarized. There is no point expecting cricket/sport/entertainment to be separate from politics. NBA had people kneeling due to BLM. People in England were booing the football players who were kneeling as well. This is just the beginning. Countries without money will be oppressed and shamed by the West. But the West itself is getting destabilized from within. I don't want to sound like a doomsayer, but the signs are obvious.

My point is: got to have a thicker skin, and perhaps start find more hobbies, as sports as we know won't be separate from politics in our lifetime.

 

[James]

Unfortunately with now almost universal media access across the world, things are heading down a dark path for not just sport but life in general. Everything in modern life is slowly being forced into one side or another. Even a politically neutral country like NZ i am seeing disturbing trend of left and right ideals becoming starkly defined. Social media is worse than any virus.

Astute observations that I fully agree with.

 

[sweep_shot]

There was always politics. But, there is even more politics now than before.

Cricket is becoming very lame lately.

 

[OMB]

Astute observations that I fully agree with.

yes, it is a trend in every sphere of life now. It was always there in cricket in the background but now it is prominently in the foreground.
Political polarisation is leading to Governments influencing professional sport bodies. Those traditional rivlaries of the Ashes or India Pakistan were healthy rivalries and were kind of unifying the cricket fans.
The current trend is only dividing the cricekt fans farther apart and this annoys me as the game is the ultiamte loser.

NZCB and PCB should have handled it better.

 

[Bilal Ahmad15]

In a couple of years time, it could very well be that IPL will be the biggest cricket completion, even more than the ODI WC, and we will just have the 'big 4' keep playing each other over and over again, while they play the outside teams like Pakistan, west indies etc. in ODI World Cups and casually, as a result of the politics.

Sad Time for Cricket

 

[Aman]

Cricket is perhaps going to get a reality check from political tensions.

Will SENA play with Afghanistan as well? They have made their intentions clear, especially CA.

Dark days lie ahead for world cricket.

I can't see NZ touring Afghanistan any time soon, we might play them in ICC tournaments but if they toured NZ I imagine there would be some backlash from Kiwi-Afghanis who may protest against the Taliban government.

 

[Yk313]

There is massive outrage against NZ on TV and social media; people are seething! We, as a country, need to accept the ground reality that Pakistan is an unsafe place where foreigners are targeted frequently.

That’s fine, no problem. But to safeguard PAK security personnel, civilians and even NZC for the duration of the remainder of their stay it would be prudent for NZ govt. / NZC to share the nature of the threat (not the source).

Terrorist attacks spill over on to people who are not the direct target too (collateral), just ask PAK. Without knowledge of any impending threat the personnel guarding the NZCT would not know how best to protect the squad and what to watch out for. By keeping the security risk to themselves NZ have endangered lives of:

- security personnel (likely collateral)
- PAK civilians (likely collateral if the threat was expected from the audience / spectators)
- NZC team / squad (by not sharing the nature - not the source - of the risk with personnel with the security forces who are meant to escort NZC to the airport etc.)

 

[Yk313]

I dont imagine any direct motive for the NZ government as there is no real gain. However you certainly can't rule out indirect influence by other parties. We used to kick the US in the shins and bark like a harmless but fiesty chihuahua at attempts to interfere but things have changed.

I concur - can’t see any obvious motive for the NZ govt to pull this stunt (if it does get ruled as such).

However before any label gets accorded to it for good would be interesting to see what revelations re. the nature of the threat come forth after NZCT have left PAK.

 

[Technics 1210]

Do not believe the Anglo-Saxon racist alliance. Pakistan shared intel with 5 eyes as part of an alliance and war on terror within the region; it's absolute horsepukky that 5 eyes shouldn't share intel in this case.

Funny how the Kiwis were afraid to sit on the bus heading to the ground but those fears subsided when heading to Islamabad airport, on a bus.

 

[Shafi]

Why don't they just leave? May be ask Indian/American marine soldiers to escort them home. NZ is making the situation worse by doing this drama. PCB should give them 5 hours to leave. They are trying to show to world that Pakistan is not a safe place and need NATO do something. Enough acting.

 

[Aman]

Why don't they just leave? May be ask Indian/American marine soldiers to escort them home. NZ is making the situation worse by doing this drama. PCB should give them 5 hours to leave. They are trying to show to world that Pakistan is not a safe place and need NATO do something. Enough acting.

NZ media reporting they're organizing their departure from Pakistan. Not quite sure what the hold is up, but I imagine it will become more clear in the coming days.

 

[UzmanBeast]

CA is right to protest against gender inequality in Afghanistan by refusing to play against them. This was not case even 2 months, its clear Afghanistan was on path of development previously and now infested by extremists and their ideologies supported by likewise countries.

Whether they are right or wrong is a political matter, we each have our opinions.

I don't think any reasonable would say that they support what the Taliban is doing with regards to gender inequality, but let's be honest, is refusing to play with them going to change that?

Mixing sports and politics is a very bad idea.

Afghanistan's situation is complex, it cannot be summarized in a few words. One thing is clear that whilst the previous government showed great competence to assure some stability, they also failed with their own ineptness by not using the resources at their disposal to destroy the Taliban advances.

If the Taliban can assure stability in Afghanistan, there is bound to be some change. The study of war will often reveal that it takes stability before those who are oppressed can stand up and change the perceptions of many.

I believe, and hope, that in time Afghanistan can witness peace and that the problems plaguing their country can one day end.

However, CA did not make a good decision in my mind, the Afghan cricketers do nothing.

Like people here praise New Zealand for following their government's orders, why do we change the narrative when ACB, who is bound to follow the rules set by the Taliban, cannot include women's cricketers?

Why change the narrative now to suit their interests?

 

[Sherlock]

Honestly I don't blame NZ for cancelling the tour. In fact if Pakistan were in the same position and we were told by the government to leave the country, we'd do the same.

The issue was how NZ went about cancelling the tour. That leaves a bad taste and shows total disregard for the security services and military the government supplied, and the total costs that may have occurred due to the tour going ahead.

Everything else I get, and wholeheartedly support the stance if found to be legitimate. Just not how they went about it.

 

[saeedhk]

Imran Khan biggest’s enemy is his past tweets.

 

[JattMaula]

Unfortunately with now almost universal media access across the world, things are heading down a dark path for not just sport but life in general. Everything in modern life is slowly being forced into one side or another. Even a politically neutral country like NZ i am seeing disturbing trend of left and right ideals becoming starkly defined. Social media is worse than any virus.

These are growing pains of "a true information age". We will see more tolerant and peaceful world at its conclusion. Keep hope.

 

[sharmaji]

This. I have been saying this as well. World is becoming so extreme and binary with left wing and right wing. Everything is political now. From social media, to entertainment industry to corporate workplaces to rift in families. There is no room left for objectivity. Sports is the latest casualty. Sad times really.

yes, it is a trend in every sphere of life now. It was always there in cricket in the background but now it is prominently in the foreground.
Political polarisation is leading to Governments influencing professional sport bodies. Those traditional rivlaries of the Ashes or India Pakistan were healthy rivalries and were kind of unifying the cricket fans.
The current trend is only dividing the cricekt fans farther apart and this annoys me as the game is the ultiamte loser.

NZCB and PCB should have handled it better.

 

[Buffet]

View attachment 111826

Imran Khan biggest’s enemy is his past tweets.

So IK thought that Pakistan was not safe to host cricket a few years back? What was the ground situation back then?

 

[zarak]

View attachment 111826

Imran Khan biggest’s enemy is his past tweets.

Just highlights how much of a political issue this is. Now that IK is in power, Najam Sethi is talking about how it is not safe to play

 

[Technics 1210]

Clinging on an IK tweet from 4.5 years ago, the situation was very different.

Since then a number of teams have toured Pakistan, safely.

 

[ManFan]

Gotta love how Pakistan is so dangerous that NZ is still holed up in there for an extra 24+ hours.

 

[Yk313]

View attachment 111826

Imran Khan biggest’s enemy is his past tweets.

Thanks but if PAK were to be honest with itself then the reality is that especially post 9/11 it was a matter of when, not if. The attacks on SRL (or another team) could have happened in ‘01 and that would have been that.

Slightly tangential to your point about Khan’s tweets, the frequency of these attacks in PAK higher than those in IND, BAN, SRL - not talking about the causes, talking about consequences - but really any of these could have ended up engulfing visiting teams by design or otherwise. These three countries, and PAK, have seen things stabilise overall with not as many attacks in major cities. PAK naturally still remains relatively unsafe and touring entourages need to be guarded for obvious reasons but one still needs a not so insignificant amount of security to be safe than sorry at each of these places, in my opinion.

 

[shamaan]

There is massive outrage against NZ on TV and social media; people are seething! We, as a country, need to accept the ground reality that Pakistan is an unsafe place where foreigners are targeted frequently.

Like the psl forigners ?

 

[IMMY69]

I appreciate his wording suggests otherwise but I believe he is referring to the overall situation in PAK.

To be clear, if overseas players are looking to come to PAK to wander about in androon Lahore, capture selfies at Peshawer in front of the sights or go on road trips to areas further North then PAK is not exactly the safest of places to do this. And I think this overall sense of uncertainty and uneasiness is what the poster may be referring to.

Without quoting stats about hate crimes, gun violence tell me this - would you feel safer walking around Downtown LA with your family after dusk or around Phase I in DHA (KHI)?

The reality of the Indian Subcontinent is that security protocols will still be required and more so than the other three countries in PAK. Has the situation improved when compared to the Zardari era of 2010s? Sure. Is it such that one can feel completely at ease in public spaces? No.

Did NZC know of the overall situation beforehand? Yes. Was there any other option, other than abandoning tour, when they found out about the threat? No, not really (PAK should have done the same. It is a shame BAN did not do the same back then).

I've done both snd Downtown LA is a scary place, especially at night.
Much more chances of being mugged, or shot in downtown LA then in DHA (any phase)

 

[OMB]

New Zealand cricket team flew out of Pakistan on a chartered flight from Islamabad to Dubai on Saturday evening, a day after abandoning its entire tour of the country over security fears.
The Kiwi players and officials underwent rapid Covid-19 tests at the airport. They were allowed to board the flight after all the reports came negative amid tight security protocols.
The visiting team reached the Islamabad International Airport at 8:10pm after being escorted by a presidential level security team. Special security units had taken control of the route between the hotel and the airport.
The kiwi team stayed at the state guest lounge at the airport, where they went through rapid polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for Covid-19 before the departure.

 

[Yk313]

I've done both snd Downtown LA is a scary place, especially at night.
Much more chances of being mugged, or shot in downtown LA then in DHA (any phase)

Likewise, fair enough. Still I think the overall essence of the post is that there is a lingering feeling of uneasiness when out in the open in PAK but let me know if you disagree.