A lot has been said and written about New Zealand Cricket (NZC) who pulled out of the Pakistan tour minutes before the first ODI of the series. The visitors followed the input provided by the government and left the country on Saturday. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) was furious with the last minute pull out and slammed New Zealand.
Speaking about the matter, the Chief of the New Zealand Cricket Players Association (NZCPA) Heath Mills has revealed that a couple New Zealand were given death threats before the tour and after experts found them not serious, the players were given a go ahead. “A couple of players received death threats a few weeks prior to the tour. It was unusual but they got the threats on social media and through other means. Our experts took some time checking them and concluded that they were not serious in nature,” Mills said while speaking to Cricbuzz.
He also backed the cricket board and thanked Pakistan for providing safety to the team during short stay in the country.
“I don’t think we have overreacted. What we can say we were very impressed with the security in Pakistan. It was safe at the ground, hotel and also during transit to the airport. But we could not have remained there,” he added. New Zealand’s entire contingent reached Dubai from Islamabad on Saturday and isolated for 24 hours before leaving for home. NZCPA informed that the players and their families are feeling safe now.
“Obviously, it has not been an easy time for the players and their families and it is a relief to everyone knowing that they are now safe. We recognize and understand that the decision to leave their country is extremely disappointing for the people of Pakistan. However, player safety has to be our number one priority and we completely support the decision that has been made by New Zealand Cricket (NZC),” the NZCPA said in a statement.