New Zealand players reach Dubai on way to homeland
WELLINGTON (Web Desk) – New Zealand cricket team has reached Dubai after cancelling the ODI series against Pakistan on the pretext of 'security threats'.
The New Zealand cricket team had left for homeland by a chartered plane from Islamabad Airport on Saturday.
"What I can say is that we were advised that this was a specific and credible threat against the team," New Zealand Cricket (NZC) chief executive David White said in a statement.
The BLACKCAPS have arrived in Dubai after leaving Islamabad on a charter flight last night (New Zealand time).
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) September 18, 2021
The players and support staff are now settling into their Dubai hotel and undergoing a 24-hour self-isolation.
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"Everything changed on Friday. The advice changed, the threat level changed and, as a consequence, we took the only responsible course of action possible.
"Unfortunately, given the advice we had received, there was no way we could stay in the country."
Earlier on Friday, New Zealand cancelled the ODI series against Pakistan on the pretext of 'security threats'.
Despite assurance given by Prime Minister Imran Khan, New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern refused to continue with the tour.
Sources said that Pakistan had provided the head-of-state level security to the New Zealand cricket team. No security institution had the threat alert.
The Black Caps had to play three One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and five Twenty20 Internationals during the tour.
