NZ tour of Pakistan under cloud after Taliban takeover in Afghanistan
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New Zealand Cricket believes that the Black Caps will travel to Bangladesh for five-match T20 series as scheduled, but whether they will tour Pakistan is uncertain, as several players expressed concerns about security following the Taliban's takeover of neighboring Afghanistan.
New Zealand Cricket Players Association boss, Heath Mills, said team manager Mike Sandle and a security consultant have currently visited Bangladesh to provide a final sign-off of security and Covid biosecurity arrangements.
“We’re very comfortable with the process we’ve got, but notwithstanding that, with events in Afghanistan in the last few days, it’s very sad what’s happening in that country and people are obviously asking questions of our security check processes,” NZ Cricket Players Association boss, Heath Mills, said.
“That includes players, which is completely understandable. We just need to assure them of the process, and follow it, and reach a determination,” he added.
The report added that New Zealand Cricket’s independent security consultant Reg Dickason would visit Pakistan for a detailed assessment of the situation next week.
“That will take him [Dickason] four or five days and then he’ll report back, and recommend whether the tour goes ahead, or it doesn’t for whatever reason... if there are changes to whatever the plan might be,” Mills said.
New Zealand are set to play three ODIs at Rawalpindi on September 17, 19 and 21. Following that they will take part in five T20Is at Lahore on September 25, 26 and 29, October 1 and 3.
