Tag: New Zealand Cricket Team

  • New Zealand to tour Pakistan twice in 2022-23

    New Zealand to tour Pakistan twice in 2022-23

    After returning from Pakistan just before the first match due to ‘security concerns’, New Zealand is set to tour Pakistan twice next season, the two boards confirmed on Monday.

    The two teams will first face each other between December 2022 and January 2023 for two Tests, which will be part of the World Test Championship, and three ODIs, part of the World Cup Super League, before New Zealand return to Pakistan in April 2023 for five ODIs and five T20Is.

    The first visit will be a part of the Future Tours Programme, while the second was agreed to make up for the matches lost when New Zealand called off their limited-overs tour of Pakistan in September this year minutes before the scheduled start of the first ODI, citing security concerns. The limited-overs tour in April 2023 will have two additional ODIs being played, along with those scheduled in the 2021 series.

    “It’s good to be going back,” NZC chief executive David White said in a statement. “Our respective chairmen, Ramiz Raja and Martin Snedden, had very fruitful and constructive discussions while in Dubai, further strengthening the bond between the two organisations.”

    After being especially critical of the NZC’s decision when they abandoned the tour this year, Ramiz said that the board was “pleased with the outcomes of our discussions and negotiations”. “This reflects the strong, cordial and historic relations the two boards have, and reconfirms Pakistan’s status as an important member of the cricket fraternity,” he said.

    Meanwhile, PCB also shared the list of International events Pakistan is going to host in future.

  • ‘Grudge match’: Ian Smith looks forward to Pakistan vs New Zealand T20 World Cup encounter

    ‘Grudge match’: Ian Smith looks forward to Pakistan vs New Zealand T20 World Cup encounter

    Former New Zealand cricketer Ian Smith believes that the encounter between Pakistan and New Zealand at the T20 World Cup will be a ‘grudge match’ and he is eagerly waiting for both teams to go head-to-head.

    Last month, Pakistani fans were upset when New Zealand unilaterally decided to pull out of the series against Pakistan due to ‘security threats’.

    “It’s a bit of a grudge match now on the basis that New Zealand pulled out of the tour over there just recently and came home, which didn’t please Pakistan at all,” said Smith, who is also a renowned commentator, according to Stuff.

    Read More – New Zealand cricket chief open to rescheduling of abandoned Pakistan series

    “We were right in doing what we did but it doesn’t ease the pain for them so there will be feeling in that game. It’s the first game that we play and I think there will be a real edge to that one so I’m looking forward to it,” he further added.

    The cancelation of New Zealand’s tour had much deeper implications as PCB was tirelessly repairing Pakistan’s image on the international stage ever since the 2009 terrorist attack on Sri Lanka’s team.

    “This conspiracy has been hatched to tarnish the image of Pakistan, as its image was going to build up due to the role it is playing for peace in the region,” said Federal Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed.

    Meanwhile, Pakistan will face India first at Dubai Inetrnational Stadium on October 24. The green shirts will be encountering the black caps on October 26.

  • PCB receive food bill of Rs 27 lakh for security hired for New Zealand team

    PCB receive food bill of Rs 27 lakh for security hired for New Zealand team

    New Zealand’s much-awaited tour of Pakistan was called off in an unfortunate manner. Although the Kiwi team landed in Pakistan for three ODIs and five T20Is, they were called back without playing a single match. The New Zealand Cricket Board (NZC) cited security concerns behind the sudden cancellation of the tour.

    With the significance of this series being so high, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had made several preparations. However, they faced disappointment as the tour was called off. As per the latest development, PCB are set to endure huge financial losses due to the cancellation of the series. In fact, the cricket board is staring at a hefty amount just to pay the food bills of security officials hired for the Kiwi team.

    As per reports, the security agencies hired for the Blackcaps came at a huge cost. If that was not enough, PCB needs to spend around Rs 27 lakhs just to pay off the food bills of the officers who were in charge of security of the New Zealand team. If reports are to be believed, five SPs and over 500 SSPs (police officers) were deployed for the security of the Kiwis along with the Pakistan Army in Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

    As per a report, each security personnel was served Biriyani twice a day, the cost of which came to approximately Rs 27 lakhs. Meanwhile, the tour was called off hours before the first ODI was to begin in Rawalpindi.

    “The side was to play Pakistan this evening in the first of three ODIs in Rawalpindi, before moving to Lahore for a five-match T20 series. However, following an escalation in the New Zealand Government threat levels for Pakistan, and advice from NZC security advisors on the ground, it has been decided the BLACKCAPS will not continue with the tour,” NZC said in the statement calling off the tour.

    Meanwhile, both Pakistan and New Zealand are currently gearing up for the high-voltage T20 World Cup. While the Men in Green have clinched the 2009 edition of the competition, the trophy is still elusive for the Kiwis.

  • NZ coach urges players to block out noise around T20 World Cup opener against Pak

    NZ coach urges players to block out noise around T20 World Cup opener against Pak

    New Zealand cricket team coach Gary Stead urged his players to block out the noise around the upcoming Twenty20 (T20) World Cup opener against Pakistan.

    According to Stuff, Stead said, “Certainly, being that it’s Pakistan, people will hype that up, but for us, it’s no different to any other match we play against them.”

    The Kiwis will begin their World T20 campaign against Pakistan on October 26 at Sharjah after cancelling the tour of Pakistan minutes before the first One-Day International (ODI), citing a ‘security threat’.

    Stead admitted that the decision to abandon the tour was disappointing for Pakistan but explained that it was not the team’s decision to make.

    “Sometimes you don’t get made aware of everything, either. It’s really hard for me to comment on,” he said.

    Following New Zealand’s abrupt decision, England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) also called off their Pakistan tour.

  • PCB to take tough stance against New Zealand

    PCB to take tough stance against New Zealand

    The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has reportedly decided to take a tough stance against the New Zealand Cricket Team (NZC) at the International Cricket Council (ICC) meeting, according to Geo News’ sources.

    The board has decided to contact influential players and commentators from around the world and seek their support in this matter.

    The ICC board meeting will be held during the upcoming T20 World Cup. The World Cup is scheduled to be played in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Oman from October 17 to November 14.

    Prior to this Prime Minister, Imran Khan spoke personally to the Prime Minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern and informed her that Pakistan has one of the best intelligence systems in the world and that no security threat of any kind exists for the visiting team, PCB has confirmed.

    Earlier, Chairman PCB Ramiz Raja had said that New Zealand will hear Pakistan at the ICC meeting. Terming the abrupt decision as a “crazy day”, the chairman added that he felt sorry for fans and the players.

    Last week, PCB, in its press release, revealed that New Zealand Cricket authorities unilaterally called off the ODI and T20 series without taking them into confidence and had not shared any details about the threats with the board or Pakistan’s security agencies.

  • Fawad Alam hits 2nd Test 100 in lost NZ match

    Fawad Alam hits 2nd Test 100 in lost NZ match

    Fawad Alam’s heroic ton went in vain as the home team won the first Test by 101 runs in Tauranga’s Mount Maunganui stadium on Wednesday.

    Eleven years, five months and 16 days on from that other lifetime when he scored his first Test hundred, Fawad pulled Wagner behind square – that shot had served him well both in defence and attack – past a diving deep fielder to bring up a second Test hundred.

    The last one he scored was way back in 2009 when he hit 168 on Test debut against Sri Lanka while opening the innings. Since then Alam has played just six Tests having made a comeback in 2020.

    Babar Azam’s injury gave him another go and yet he proved to be an ace for the team.

    The Green Caps began the final day’s play at 71-3 in chase of 373-run target with Azhar Ali and Fawad batting at 34 and 21 respectively.

    He put on a 165-run partnership with captain Mohammad Rizwan who scored a gritty half-century as well. 380 balls faced by Alam and Rizwan during their partnership – the second-longest stand for Pakistan in Tests.

    The wicketkeeper-batsman’s dismissal sparked a collapse as he was trapped leg-before by Kyle Jamieson for 60 while Fawad, who hit 14 boundaries in his 102-run knock, was caught behind on the bowling of Neil Wagner.

    The tail-end pair of pacemen Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah provided resistance to salvage a draw but it wasn’t to be as the latter was caught and bowled by Santner for one with just four more overs to go.

    Here are some reactions by cricketing experts on Fawad’s resilient innings:

    https://twitter.com/DennisCricket_/status/1344128439100481536?s=08

    Later PCB released a video in this fawad talked about his patience and test performance…

    What do you think of Fawad’s innings? Let The Current know in the comments