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ISLAMABAD: A chartered plane carrying the New Zealand cricket team, which ‘unilaterally’ called off its Pakistan tour citing “security” issues, has left Islamabad on Saturday.
According to details, Flight RG233 took off from Benazir International Airport at 8:13pm. The Airbus A319 arrived at 6:15pm from Abu Dhabi to pick up the Kiwis.
The international cricket team will return to Abu Dhabi before heading back to their country. Pakistani cricketer Mohammad Hafeez also shared a video of Kiwis reaching the airport.
“Thanks to the security of Pakistan forces to make arrangements to @BLACKCAPS to reach airport safe and sound,” he said, asking, “I wonder, the same route and same security, but no threat today???”
Thanks to the secutity of pakistan forces to make arrangements to @BLACKCAPS to reach at airport Safe & Sound. Wonder same route & same security but no threat today??? pic.twitter.com/mwxq6AFjyT
— Mohammad Hafeez (@MHafeez22) September 18, 2021
New Zealand Cricket (NZC) board on Friday backed out of the much-awaited tour, citing a security alert from their government. The Pakistani authorities assured the team of complete security but they insisted on calling off the series.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in a statement said NZC informed them that they had decided to postpone the series due to some security concern and said it is their unilateral decision.
‘Conspiracy against Pakistan’
Later in the day, Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid said the cancellation of the New Zealand tour a conspiracy against Pakistan. However, he declined to share names of those involved in this conspiracy.
The minister also termed the tour cancellation as an attempt to damage Pakistan’s efforts for peace in the region. He had said that in order to ensure foolproof security of the foreign team and matches, Pakistan had not only deployed 4000 policemen but also commandos from Pakistan Army’s Special Services Group (SSG) and Pak Army soldiers.
The had minister said that the government’s team also reached out to Prime Minister Imran Khan, who was in Dushanbe. In direct conversation, PM Imran Khan had assured New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern of complete security to the Kiwis.
“The New Zealand prime minister said there was no issue of a threat and added that the New Zealand government had received intelligence that the team could be attacked when it steps out to go to the stadium”, Sheikh had said.