New Zealand players isolate in Dubai after abandoning Pakistan tour

The New Zealand team landed in Dubai on Sunday after exiting Pakistan and calling off their tour over a security threat.

The limited-overs tour to Pakistan had to be abandoned just as it was about to begin after the Kiwi government issued a security alert.

New Zealand Cricket said in a statement: “The contingent of 34 players and support staff are now settling into their Dubai hotel and undergoing their 24-hour period of self-isolation.”

While 24 players from the group will head back to their home country, the remaining team will stay in the UAE to join the rest of the members who are already there, ahead of the T20 World Cup, which is set to begin on October 17.

“We appreciate this has been a terribly difficult time for the PCB and wish to pass on our sincere thanks to chief executive Wasim Khan and his team for their professionalism and care,” said NZC CEO David White.

“What I can say is that we were advised this was a specific and credible threat against the team. We had several conversations with New Zealand government officials before making the decision and it was after informing the PCB of our position that we understand a telephone discussion was conducted between the respective Prime Ministers,” said White.

“Unfortunately, given the advice we’d received, there was no way we could stay in the country,” he added. 

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