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New Zealand Cricket Handout via Reuters
New Zealand have abandoned their tour of Pakistan following a New Zealand government “security alert”.
The Black Caps were due to play Pakistan in the first of three One-Day Internationals in Rawalpindi today before moving to Lahore for a five-match T20 series.
New Zealand’s decision to abandon their tour came after an escalation in its government’s threat levels for Pakistan.
New Zealand Cricket has said it will not comment on the details of the security threat, with plans being put in place for the team to return home.
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan – a former Pakistan Cricket Captain – is reported to have spoken to his New Zealand counterpart Jacinda Ardern and told her that no security threat of any kind exists for the visiting team.
In December 2019, Pakistan played a test at home for the first time in 10 years since a Sri Lanka team bus was attacked in 2009.
With international teams opting not to tour because of security fears, Pakistan have played the majority of their ‘home’ matches since 2009 in the United Arab Emirates.
Grace-Anne Smith 
