PCB chairman Ramiz Raja furious after New Zealand cancel Pakistan tour: NZ will hear us at ICC

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ramiz Raja lashed out at New Zealand Cricket for backing out of their limited-overs tour at the last minute on Friday after claiming to have received a security alert from their government back home, just before the 1st ODI in Rawalpindi.

Players and support staff from both teams stayed put inside their hotel rooms while the fans were kept out of the Pindi stadium as NZC decided to pull the plug citing security concerns.

PCB released a statement saying that they were “unilaterally suspending” all the games but Raja warned NZC that the matter will be taken up before the International Cricket Council (ICC) very soon.

“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,” Raja tweeted.

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

The New Zealand cricket board and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern however, backed the decision to cancel the tour and leave Pakistan at the earliest.

“I understand this will be a blow for the PCB, who have been wonderful hosts, but player safety is paramount and we believe this is the only responsible option,” NZC chief executive David White said

“When I spoke with the Prime Minister of Pakistan I conveyed our thanks for taking care of the New Zealand Cricket team.

“I know how disappointing it will be for everyone that the game hasn’t gone ahead, but we totally support the decision that’s been made. Player safety has to be paramount,” Ardern said.

Pakistan were scheduled to host New Zealand in a series of 3 ODIs and 5 T20 internationals in Rawalpindi and Lahore from September 17 to October 3. This was going to be New Zealand’s first international cricket series in Pakistan in 18 years.