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New Zealand tour of Pakistan under threat with Taliban takeover of Afghanistan

Abhishek Singh

The Taliban takeover of Afghanistan seems to have an effect on neighbouring Pakistan, especially with foreign nationals visiting that country. In this regard, the New Zealand cricket team’s tour of Pakistan, a first in 18 years, looks under threat as New Zealand Cricket Players Association has expressed its reservations on several issues. 

“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,” NZPCA President Heath Mills was quoted as saying to Stuff, a New Zealand national news website. 

“That includes players, which is completely understandable. We just need to assure them of the process, and follow it, and reach a determination,” Mills added.

According to the report, New Zealand Cricket’s independent security consultant Reg Dickason has taken it upon himself to visit Pakistan and make an independent analysis before the team invokes on the tour. 

“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 about the arrangements. 

New Zealand, who would be touring subcontinent before and after the T20 World Cup in UAE and Oman, are scheduled to play three ODIs at the Pindi Stadium in Rawalpindi and five T20Is at the Gadaffi Stadium in Lahore in September, after their Bangladesh tour. 

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