Like everyone, former Pakistan player Shahid Afridi has also been left disappointed after New Zealand decided to pull out from the tour of Pakistan. Afridi has said what New Zealand has done is ‘unforgivable’ for Pakistan as they pulled out of the tour without waiting for their security forces to assess the situation as well.
However, New Zealand decided to not feature in the first ODI against Pakistan in Rawalpindi on September 17. And, on the 11th hour, the entire tour was called off giving a security threat to the New Zealand team. Afridi said instead of deciding to call off the tour, New Zealand should have discussed with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) about the situation.
“We all know that there is a huge amount of scrutiny when it comes to arranging tours. Proper investigations are conducted by the security members of the touring nation. The routes are defined and only when the process is completed, that is when the teams are given the green signal to visit the country,” Shahid Afridi was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan.
“New Zealand cricketers are loved in Pakistan and for them to do something like this is unforgivable. If there was any potential threat, they should have been shared with the PCB and waited for Pakistan’s security forces to assess the situation,” the former Pakistan cricketer further added.
However, after that, England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) also pulled off England’s tour of Pakistan. And, ECB confirmed that they won’t be able to send their men’s and women’s teams to Pakistan.
“If you have to look at the bigger picture then I think we need to take a decision which shows the world that we are also a country and we have our pride. It’s ok if one country is behind us but I don’t think other countries should also make the same mistake. They are all educated nations and should not follow India,” said Shahid Afridi.
Pakistan Minister makes shocking claims against India
https://twitter.com/AssadKazmiPTI/status/1440671707451170832?s=20
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s information minister Fawad Chaudhry had claimed that the email which left everyone shocked, was sent from India through a VPN using Singapore’s location as well.
“Instead, cricket should improve relations. Situation was bad in India. We were getting threats. Our board asked us to go and we went there. Similarly, during Covid-19, the situation that there was in England, the cricket went on. If you trust false e-mails and cancel tours then I believe you are offering them fodder to win. This is not the right way,” Shahid Afridi concluded.
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