NZ warned of ‘specific threat’ in Pakistan

The Black Caps pulled out of the one-day and Twenty20 series before the scheduled opening game in Rawalpindi on Friday following a New Zealand Government ‘security alert’.

The players have since flown to Dubai. NZC Chief Executive David White said: “We were advised this was a specific and credible threat against the team.”

“Everything changed on Friday. The advice changed, the threat level changed and, as a consequence, we took the only responsible course of action possible.”

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said: “You will understand why we are not in a position to give further information as to the nature of the intelligence, other than to say, it was a direct threat, and it was a credible threat.”

New Zealand’s tour of Pakistan was their first in 18 years. The sides were due to play three ODIs in Rawalpindi and five T20s in Lahore. (BBC)