"NZ just killed Pakistan cricket" - Players hit back at Black Caps call

Former and current Pakistan players, as well as the country's cricket board and government have hit back at New Zealand's decision to abandon its tour of the country over security fears - moments before the start of the first match in Rawalpindi.

Pakistan had offered presidential level security with 4,000 army and police personnel involved in the operation at the cost of millions of dollars. The board now faces substantial financial losses from broadcast and sponsorship deals.

Ramiz Raja, the former Pakistan captain, only took over as chairman of the PCB this week and immediately launched a stinging attack on the New Zealand authorities.

"Walking out of the tour by taking a unilateral approach on a security threat is very frustrating," he tweeted. "Especially when it's not shared!! Which world is NZ living in?? NZ will hear us at ICC."

In an official statement on Friday night, the PCB said "no security threat of any kind exists for the visiting team", with Pakistan Prime Minister and former cricket captain Imran Khan having spoken to New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in an attempt to reassure her.

"Pakistan Cricket Board and Pakistan Government made foolproof security arrangements for all visiting teams. We have assured the New Zealand Cricket of the same. The Pakistan Prime Minister spoke personally to the Prime Minister of New Zealand and informed her that we have one of the best intelligence systems in the world and that no security threat of any kind exists for the visiting team.

"The security officials with the New Zealand team have been satisfied with security arrangements made by the Pakistan Government throughout their stay here.

"PCB is willing to continue the scheduled matches. However, cricket lovers in Pakistan and around the world will be disappointed by this last-minute withdrawal."

Ardern detailed her conversation with Khan and supported NZC's decision.

"When I spoke with the Prime Minister of Pakistan I conveyed our thanks for taking care of the New Zealand cricket team," Ardern said on Friday night.

"I know how disappointing it will be for everyone that the game hasn't gone ahead, but we totally support the decision that's been made. Player safety has to be paramount"

The Black Caps were due to play all three ODIs in the country's fourth-largest city before moving on to Lahore for five Twenty20 clashes after last month receiving government assurance of their safety.

It is the first time in 18 years the Black Caps have toured Pakistan, with their visit in 2002 cut short following an explosion outside the team hotel in Karachi.

No international teams visited Pakistan for over a decade following the terror attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in 2009 that killed seven people and injured a number of players.

The first match in the current series was due to start at 9.30pm but no players were present at the Pindi Stadium - after reportedly being ordered to stay in the team hotel.

The Kiwis arrived in the country just under a week ago and have been escorted to and from the stadium for training sessions by security detail.

Former and current Pakistan players expressed their disappointment on social media, with star batsman Babar Azam weighing in.

Legendary fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar tweeted that the decision "killed Pakistan cricket".

The man known as the Rawalpindi Express in his playing career has almost four million followers and has been critical of New Zealand Cricket in the past - lashing the organisation in November last year for threatening to cancel his former team's tour after six Pakistani players tested positive for Covid-19 at their managed isolation facility in Christchurch.

The players had contravened protocols on the first day of managed isolation, with the entire team were given a "final warning" by the Government for breaching rules.

On that occasion Akhtar accused NZC of treating the Pakistan team like a club team.

"New Zealand's comment that if Pakistan's team's SOP (standard operating procedures) is not in place then we will cancel the tour is below the belt," Akhtar said on his YouTube channel.

"I want to give a message to New Zealand board (NZC) that this is not a club team, it's Pakistan national cricket team.

'We don't need you. Our cricket has not finished.

"You will get the broadcasting rights money. So, you should be indebted to us that we decided to tour your country in such difficult times.

"You are talking about Pakistan - the greatest country on the planet – so behave yourself and stop giving such statement. Be careful next time. Pakistan team now needs to smash them in T20 series."

Other notable players to join the chorus of disappointment included Inzamam Ul Haq, Hassan Ali, Ahmed Shezad, Wahab Riaz, Azhar Mahmood, Daren Sammy, Shadab Kahn, Haris Rauf and Angelo Perera.

The England Cricket Board reacted to news of the cancellation late on Friday night, saying it was "liaising with our security team who are on the ground in Pakistan to fully understand the situation".

England are set to face Pakistan in two T20s in Rawalpindi next month while the country is also due to host West Indies and Australia in the coming months. England are scheduled for a full tour to Pakistan this time next year.

"Each country is going to have to assess things themselves and make their own decision," Khan said.

"I don't think today will help moving forward for us. We have done a lot of hard work over the last two and half years to get Test cricket back and regular international cricket back into the country. Losing that momentum now is going to take some time for us to build up again."