Prospects Of Pakistan Cricket Ruined After New Zealand, England Cancel Tours

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There have been strong calls in Pakistan to boycott New Zealand after the Kiwis pulled out from their cricket tour in the country at the last moment.

However, the latest fiasco has seen Pakistan losing further as England too followed suit and withdrewn from a proposed tour to Pakistan in October. Threats of terror attack on cricketers have been cited as the reason by these two countries to abandon playing in Pakistan. And their concerns are reasonable, say sources.

In 2009, the Sri Lankan cricket team was attacked by terrorists in Pakistan. The ongoing fiasco is set to hurt the prospects of international cricket matches being played in Pakistan, and the country may turn into a 'no-go' area if other countries too follow New Zealand and England.

The New Zealand Cricket Board decided to call off its tour of Pakistan over security concerns hours before the first ODI was to be played in Rawalpindi. Bomb squads were seen conducting search operations on the ground a just before the game was supposed to begin. This escalated the fears the New Zealand government had about threats to the visiting cricketers.

"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," it said.

Even Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's urgent call to his New Zealand counterpart Jacinda Ardern did not work. Ardern called the threats "credible" and "direct and targeted".

In 2009, a bus carrying Sri Lankan players was attacked by gunmen, who fired bullets and hurled grenades. Even a rocket launcher was used. The attack led to the killing of six security personnel. Sri Lankan players were also injured.

Sri Lanka had dared to travel to Pakistan when others were wary of it due to security issues. The tour was cancelled immediately. While New Zealand did not give specific details of the threats, the arrival of the bomb squad at the stadium at the last moment bolstered the possibility of terror attack.

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