Tag: NZ PM

  • NZ to play Test match in Karachi after 22 years

    NZ to play Test match in Karachi after 22 years

    Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday released the match schedule of New Zealand men’s cricket team’s upcoming dual tours of Pakistan. NZ will play two Tests as part of their ICC World Test Championship title defence and three ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League fixtures from 27 December to 15 January, before returning for five T20Is and five ODIs from 13 April to 7 May.
    The Karachi Test will be New Zealand’s first in the city since October 1990.

    “We had promised our passionate fans that we will deliver high-quality home international cricket in 2022. Today’s announcement of New Zealand’s double visit to Pakistan is part of that commitment,” said PCB Director, Zakir Khan.

    He also stated that, “New Zealand is one of the high-performing sides and the more we will play against the top teams in our backyard, the better we will get as a unit, which is crucial to our objective of featuring inside the top-three across all formats. The New Zealand matches will also provide opportunities to our youngsters to continue to watch and follow their favourite players in action, something they have missed when we were forced to play our international cricket offshore.”

    Here is the schedule:

    Pakistan vs New Zealand:
    27-31 Dec – 1st Test, Karachi (ICC World Test Championship)
    4-8 Jan – 2nd Test, Multan (ICC World Test Championship)
    11 Jan – 1st ODI, Karachi (ICC Super League)
    13 Jan – 2nd ODI, Karachi (ICC Super League)
    15 Jan – 3rd ODI, Karachi (ICC Super League)
    13 Apr – 1st T20I, Karachi

    15 Apr – 2nd T20I, Karachi
    16 Apr – 3rd T20I, Karachi
    19 Apr – 4th T20I, Karachi
    23 Apr – 5th T20I, Lahore
    26 Apr – 1st ODI, Lahore
    28 Apr – 2nd ODI, Lahore
    1 May – 3rd ODI, Rawalpindi

    4 May – 4th ODI, Rawalpindi
    7 May – 5th ODI, Rawalpindi

  • ‘We totally support the decision’: NZ PM Jacinda Ardern on Pakistan tour abandonment

    ‘We totally support the decision’: NZ PM Jacinda Ardern on Pakistan tour abandonment

    New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Friday backed her cricket board’s decision to call off the entire tour of Pakistan after a security alert just minutes before the first ODI in Rawalpindi, as the safety of the players was paramount.

    New Zealand Cricket said it received a security alert from its government and made the decision to cancel the tour just moments before the scheduled start of the One-Day International (ODI) series.

    This was going to be New Zealand’s first international cricket series in Pakistan in 18 years but sadly, it had to be called off after the visiting side refused to come to the stadium and stayed put inside their hotel rooms citing security concerns.

    Pakistan were scheduled to host New Zealand for a series of 3 ODIs and 5 T20 internationals in Rawalpindi and Lahore from September 17 to October 3.

    “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 in a statement sent to Reuters.

    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.