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ISLAMABAD: Former Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Akhtar has hit out at New Zealand Cricket for threatening to cancel his former team’s tour after six Pakistani players tested positive for COVID-19.
NZ Cricket was made aware that some members of the Pakistan team had contravened protocols on the first day of managed isolation. The entire team was given a “final warning” for breaching rules.
However, Akhtar warned NZC for threatening to cancel the tour, accusing the New Zealand governing body of treating the Pakistan team like a club team. “New Zealand’s comment that if Pakistan’s team’s SOP are 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, its Pakistan national cricket team. We don’t need you. Our cricket has not finished. You will get the broadcasting rights money. You should be indebted to us that we decided to tour your country in such difficult times,” he said.
“You are talking about Pakistan – the greatest country on the planet – so behave yourself and stop giving such statements. Be careful next time. Pakistan team now needs to smash them in T20 series.” The former fast bowler even called on the Pakistan Cricket Board to boycott NZC.
Earlier PCB CEO Wasim Khan said that the New Zealand cricket board has given the Pakistan cricket team a “final warning” to adhere to coronavirus safety guidelines.
The New Zealand board has claimed that three to four standard operating procedures (SOPs) were violated by Pakistani cricketers, following which six tested positive for coronavirus.
Wasim Khan said that the New Zealand government has a “zero-tolerance policy” towards violation of coronavirus safety protocols. He urged them to follow coronavirus safety protocols for the next fourteen days as this concerns the prestige and integrity of the country.
He said that the board has warned that any further violation of SOPs would result in the Pakistan cricket team being sent back home which will be a huge embarrassment for the entire country. He reiterated that the New Zealand government will not compromise on the issue of health.
