Kiwis depart for UAE after cancellation of Pak-NZ cricket series

The departure followed the ‘controversial’ announcement by the NZ government that their cricket team could face a ‘security lapse’ during their stay in Pakistan.

Per details, the 33-member New Zealand cricket team arrived at the Islamabad airport and left for Dubai via a chartered flight at 8 pm today.

Earlier on Friday, the New Zealand Cricket backed out of the much-awaited tour, citing a security alert from their government. The Pakistani authorities had assured the NZC of complete security but they insisted on abandoning the series.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in a statement had said that the NZC informed that they had decided to postpone the series due to some security concern and it is their unilateral decision.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ramiz Raja has advised the country's cricketers to put their "frustration" to good use and perform well after the New Zealand authorities' last-minute decision to end their tour due to a "security alert".

"Vent out your frustration in your performance," the PCB chairman said in a video message released by the cricket board, as he tried to boost the spirits of fans and cricketers alike after the debacle. The PCB chairman said that this was the only solution to cope with the pull-out, as when you become a world-class team, other countries will line up to play in Pakistan.