Tag: Black Caps

  • Islamabad police all set to provide foolproof security to New Zealand team

    Islamabad police all set to provide foolproof security to New Zealand team

    The Islamabad police has said on Sunday that they were “fully equipped” to provide end-to-end “fool-proof and world-class” security to the New Zealand cricket team during their upcoming series in which five T20I and five One Day International (ODI) matches will be played.

    The Black Caps are scheduled to arrive in Pakistan on April 9 (today) for the limited-overs series set to begin on April 14 in Lahore.

    A day earlier, sources in the police department told Geo News that police have refused to provide security, saying they “do not have resources” and claimed that it is the responsibility of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to provide the same for security.

    The sources said that police personnel are busy with deployment at free flour distribution centres, ongoing census and other activities related to the holy month of Ramadan.

    However, Inspector General of Police Dr Akbar Nasir Khan has now said that the Islamabad police have provided the highest level of security during the visit of the English cricket team and Pakistan Super League’s (PSL) eighth edition “flawlessly” in 2022-23.

    “Police shall be playing a key role for provision of flawless security in collaboration with other stakeholders in Islamabad and Rawalpindi,” he assured.

    The touring teams stay at a hotel in the capital and travel to the Pindi Cricket Stadium for matches.

    Pakistan v New Zealand schedule:
    April 14 — 1st T20I, Lahore

    April 15 — 2nd T20I, Lahore

    April 17 — 3rd T20I, Lahore

    April 20 — 4th T20I, Rawalpindi

    April 24 — 5th T20I, Rawalpindi

    April 26 — 1st ODI, Rawalpindi

    April 30 — 2nd ODI, Karachi

    May 3 — 3rd ODI, Karachi

    May 5 — 4th ODI, Karachi

    May 7 — 5th ODI, Karachi

  • ‘Safe and home, Pakistan Zindabad’: Akcent supports Pakistan after New Zealand’s exit

    ‘Safe and home, Pakistan Zindabad’: Akcent supports Pakistan after New Zealand’s exit

    Romanian star-singer Adrian Sina, face of the music band Akcent extended his support to Pakistan in the wake of New Zealand’s sudden and disappointing abandonment of their Pakistan tour under the pretext of security concerns minutes before the first ODI started.

    Taking to social media, the official page of the band shared a video of a concert in Pakistan with a note which read: “I have been to Pakistan many times and I always felt it like a home. I feel safe there and the love I receive from Pakistan is beyond amazing. I will come back even more often. I love my fans! Pakistan Zindabad!”

    Earlier this month Akcent also extended support for Pakistani actor Ayesha Omar after her confessions on mental health.

    The Black Caps devastated Pakistan’s cricket fraternity on September 17 after opting out of their tour of Pakistan minutes before the first ODI was to be played. They had cited a ‘security threat’ as the reason without divulging any further details.

  • Shaniera Akram defends Pakistan, gets trolled

    Shaniera Akram defends Pakistan, gets trolled

    Shaniera Akram has defended Pakistan by saying that she feels safe in Pakistan than any other country.

    Taking to Twitter, she wrote: “There is no place in the world I feel more safe than in Pakistan.”

    Many thanked her for defending Pakistan, but she was also trolled for her tweet. Here are a few comments on her tweet, have a look:

    Meanwhile, the former cricketer and her husband Wasim Akram had tweeted, “I think the world underestimates how powerful our security forces are. Cricket is more than a sport to us and we will do everything in our power to prevent [it] being taken from us again.” He went on, “The world needs to give us a chance to prove that!”

    Read More – ‘NZ just killed Pakistan cricket’: Pak cricketers react after tour cancellation

    NZ Board called off the tour upon a security alert cited by their government and as soon as the news broke out, several foreign cricketers including West Indies cricketer Daren Sammy, Sri Lanka’s Angelo Perera, Grant Eliot and WI’s Sherfane Rutherford also voiced support for Pakistan after New Zealand’s pull out.

  • ‘No security problem in Pak’: Daren Sammy reacts to New Zealand’s decision

    ‘No security problem in Pak’: Daren Sammy reacts to New Zealand’s decision

    Former West Indian captain Daren Sammy has said that there is no security problem in Pakistan. He also expressed his disappointment at New Zealand cancelling its Pakistan series due to “security reasons”.

    Speaking on Geo News programme ‘Naya Pakistan’, Sammy said that field experts are saying that if Pakistan is safe, then one should trust then. “I have been coming to Pakistan for the last 6 years, it has always been a good experience.”

    While talking about New Zealand cancelling the tour, he said: “I was very disappointed with New Zealand’s decision. There is no security problem in Pakistan. I remember people used to ask me to go to Pakistan or not but now people ask me to go to Pakistan and play golf and eat.”

    He said that attacks have taken place in New Zealand and England, incidents have also been seen in Australia, and incidents are happening everywhere in the world but there is no noise. He also added that the situation in Pakistan has changed. “Earlier, people used to ask, is it safe to go to Pakistan? Now people ask where to go and eat in Pakistan.”

    The New Zealand cricket team cancelled their tour shortly before the first ODI match against Pakistan on the grounds of security reasons, which has drawn frustration from cricket fans all over the world. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to take a strong stand against the New Zealand Cricket Board.

  • ‘Same route, same security but no threat today?’: Mohammad Hafeez questions the Black Caps departure

    ‘Same route, same security but no threat today?’: Mohammad Hafeez questions the Black Caps departure

    Pakistani cricketer Mohammad Hafeez took to Twitter to question the departure of the Black Caps, and tweeted, “Thanks to the security of Pakistan forces to make arrangements to @BLACKCAPS to reach airport Safe & Sound. Wonder same route & same security but no threat today???”

    A day after New Zealand abandoned their Pakistan tour, the newly appointed Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ramiz Raja on Saturday called on players to channel their frustration into their performance.

    In a video message, shared by the PCB, Ramiz Raja said: “Release your frustration and anger by channeling it towards your performance.”

    “Everyone will want to play against you. So I want us to learn from this, move forward, and keep strong. There is no need to be disappointed,” said Ramiz.

    “We will do whatever we can and you will soon get to hear good news and results,” said the chairman.

    “It is a shared pain and whatever happened is not right for Pakistani cricket,” he said, calling the situation an “unfortunate scenario”.

    “We have experienced such situations in the past but we have always moved forward. We have a lot of resilience and strength, and that is because of the fans and the cricket team,” he said.

    Meanwhile, a PCB official speaking with Dawn said, “This is a blow to the efforts the PCB, the government, and the security agencies who had been making to fully restore international cricket in Pakistan.”

    “The ICC has done nothing in these cases,” the official added. “Furthermore since the Indian lobby is strong at the ICC, so it will not be easy for the PCB to win any case of compensation against New Zealand.”

    “There isn’t much hope that England will tour now,” said the official.

    On Friday, the New Zealand cricket team had backed out of its tour of Pakistan over security concerns minutes before the first match was scheduled to start at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

  • ‘NZ just killed Pakistan cricket’: Pak cricketers react after tour cancellation

    ‘NZ just killed Pakistan cricket’: Pak cricketers react after tour cancellation

    Pakistani cricketers, including Babar Azam, Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Akhtar and others have expressed their disappointment after the New Zealand cricket board abandoned Pakistan series at the last minute.

    Taking to Twitter, Babar wrote: “Extremely disappointed on the abrupt postponement of the series, which could have brought the smiles back for millions of Pakistan Cricket Fans. I’ve full trust in the capabilities and credibility of our security agencies. They are our pride and always will be! Pakistan Zindabad!”

    While Shoaib Akhtar wrote: “NZ just killed Pakistan cricket.”

    “On a HOAX threat you have called-off the tour despite all assurances! @BalackCaps do you understand the IMPACT of your decision,” questioned Afridi.

    The series has been postponed after New Zealand expressed security threats. Despite Prime Minister Imran Khan talking to New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and ensuring her that the levels of securities are high, the series was called off.

  • ‘NZ will hear us at ICC’: Ramiz Raja enraged after series abandonment

    ‘NZ will hear us at ICC’: Ramiz Raja enraged after series abandonment

    The newly appointed Chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Ramiz Raja has lashed out at New Zealand cricket board after they abandoned the series at the last minute. While transnational players, including Grant Eliot and Daren Sammy, also expressed their disappointment on the news.

    Taking to Twitter, PCB Chairman wrote: “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.”

    Meanwhile, transnational cricketer including Daren Sammy, Michael Vaughan, Angelo Perera, Grant Elliot and Sherfane Rutherford also shared their views on the cancellation of the series.

    https://twitter.com/SRutherford_50/status/1438807718727462917?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1438807718727462917%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fthecurrent.pk%2Fwp-admin%2Fpost.php%3Fpost%3D131302action%3Dedit
    https://twitter.com/angiperera/status/1438827329057292288?s=20

    The black Caps were set to play three ODIs and five T20Is in Pindi and Lahore respectively.

    New Zealand’s cricket board said arrangements were being made for the team’s departure back home, citing an escalation in threat levels and the advice of security advisors.