Last night, the news of New Zealand’s cricket team abruptly pulling out of its tour of Pakistan came out, stating that the tour had been canceled due to ‘Security Reasons”. As soon as the news was out, cricket fanatics all over Pakistan were disappointed and left heartbroken as the decision impacted international cricket in Pakistan considerably.
The BLACKCAPS are abandoning their tour of Pakistan following a New Zealand government security alert. Arrangements are now being made for the team’s departure.
The BLACKCAPS are abandoning their tour of Pakistan following a New Zealand government security alert.
Arrangements are now being made for the team’s departure.
More information | https://t.co/Lkgg6mAsfu
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) September 17, 2021
Senior journalist Omar Quraishi tweeted that the New Zealand team was going from their hotel to the stadium for net practice until Thursday. An extensive review was carried by their security consultant before they even landed.
Till Thursday evening the NZ cricket team was going from their hotel to the Rawalpindi cricket stadium for net practice – before they landed there was an extensive security review by their own security consultant – what would have possibly changed overnight re security situation
— omar r quraishi (@omar_quraishi) September 17, 2021
The Pakistan Cricket Board stated that New Zealand Cricket (NZC) notified the board about “some security alert.” Without any discussion, the team also decided to postpone the series. The NZC said that player safety was “paramount” while Pakistan had been “wonderful hosts.”
Since then, the internet has been flooded with angry posts and comments of people and celebrities.
Its sad but its ok. We’re a nation used to bouncing back. Pakistan is safe & always will be. We’ll still open heartedly welcome New Zealand or any other nation that thinks otherwise bcz thats who we are.
p.s. beware of a cornered Pakistan, world. See u at t20 world cup! #PAKvNZ
— Asim Azhar (@AsimAzharr) September 17, 2021
Ramiz Raja, Farhan Saeed, and Faysal Qureshi also take it to Twitter to express their disappointment and opinions.
Pakistan is as safe as it gets for any cricketing nation that comes here.
Unfortunate to see the unilateral cancellation of the #PAKvNZ series – a sad day for international cricket.#PakvsNz #Pakistan #NewZealand— Farhan Saeed (@farhan_saeed) September 17, 2021
Very disappointed to hear about #NZ backing out of the game at the last minute. This is just sad and shocking after all the work that had been put in by the organisers as well as the team. Millions of cricket fans have been let down today. #PAKvNZ
— Faysal Quraishi (@faysalquraishi) September 17, 2021
Crazy day it has been! Feel so sorry for the fans and our players. Walking out of the tour by taking a unilateral approach on a security threat is very frustrating. Especially when it’s not shared!! Which world is NZ living in??NZ will hear us at ICC.
— Ramiz Raja (@iramizraja) September 17, 2021
As a Pakistani citizen I want to know the credible threat that @BLACKCAPS found. It is only fair to share that intelligence with the @GovtofPakistan so that if there is a real threat it can be neutralized immediately & lives are protected. #PAKvNZ
— Fakhr-e-Alam (@falamb3) September 17, 2021
Pakistani cricketer Shahid Afridi shocked at the decision, tweeted, “On a HOAX threat you have called off the tour despite all assurances!! @BLACKCAPS do you understand the IMPACT of your decision?”
Clearly, the people in the field understand the impact of New Zealand abandoning tour in Pakistan which will go down in history.
On a HOAX threat you have called-off the tour despite all assurances!! @BLACKCAPS do you understand the IMPACT of your decision?
— Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) September 17, 2021
VJ and host, Anoushey Ashraf also took it to social media to express her disappointment. She believes that the New Zealand team’s decision is politically driven.
She wrote, “I am so sorry to the disappointed Pakistanis across the world after New Zealand’s sudden withdrawal from the game. It is obvious the agenda is politically driven.”
“Big shoutout to CEO of PCB Wasim Khan for trying relentlessly and honestly to bring the game back to Pakistan. It will happen sooner than later, Inshallah. And we shall wait as we have, and we shall celebrate as we deserve when that time comes.”
Celebrated Pakistani director Nabeel Qureshi called the withdrawal “devastating news.”
Oscar-winning filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy said on Instagram that the news didn’t make sense to her. The New Zealand team’s security had spent a month here – Pakistani security has been excellent.
“The Black Caps embarrassed themselves. Also, there has to be more to this, what do you guys think?” singer Yasir Jaswal wrote on Instagram.
Actor Zarnish Khan said in an Instagram story, “it’s quite disappointing to see how things turned out.”
Abtaha Maqsood is Britain’s First Hijab-Wearing Muslim Female to Play International Cricket. Read the full story here:
Abtaha Maqsood is Britain’s first hijab-wearing Muslim female to play international cricket. Maqsood wants young British Muslim girls to take up the challenge and play cricket professionally despite cultural or religious barriers. Maqsood’s parents are from Lahore, Pakistan. However, she herself was born in Glasgow, Scotland, on June 11, 1999.
Abtaha Maqsood is Britain’s First Hijab-Wearing Muslim Female to Play International Cricket
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