New Zealand cricket team in Pakistan in 2021–22
| New Zealand cricket team in Pakistan in 2021–22 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 |
 | ||
| Pakistan | New Zealand | ||
| Dates | 17 September – 3 October 2021 | ||
| Captains | Babar Azam | Tom Latham | |
| One Day International series | |||
| Twenty20 International series | |||
The New Zealand cricket team toured Pakistan in September and October 2021, and were scheduled to play three One Day International (ODI) and five Twenty20 International (T20I) matches.[1][2][3] It was New Zealand's first tour of Pakistan since 2003.[4] However, on the morning of the first ODI match, New Zealand Cricket (NZC) raised a security alert with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the Pakistan Government,[5] which resulted in the entire tour being called off.[6][7]
In December 2021, both cricket boards agreed to play a set of extra fixtures in Pakistan in April 2023 to make up for the postponed tour,[8][9] following New Zealand's tour of Pakistan in December 2022.[10][11]
Background
[edit]On 4 August 2021, the PCB confirmed the schedule for the tour.[12] The ODIs were scheduled to take place at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium,[13] and the T20Is would have taken place at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.[14] Tom Latham was named as New Zealand's captain, with Kane Williamson being unavailable due to him playing in the rescheduled phase of the 2021 Indian Premier League.[15] After the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in August 2021, several New Zealand players reportedly expressed concerns about touring Pakistan.[16] On 18 August, New Zealand Cricket announced that its players would have the right to pull out of the tour if they "felt uneasy about touring Pakistan even if the tour went ahead".[17]
The ODI series was originally scheduled to form part of the inaugural 2020–23 ICC Cricket World Cup Super League.[18][19] However, in September 2021 it was announced that due to the unavailability of the Decision Review System (DRS), the ODI matches would be a standalone bilateral series.[20] The World Cup Super League matches were rescheduled for New Zealand's tour of Pakistan in 2022–23.[21]
Reactions and aftermath
[edit]Newly-appointed PCB Chairman Ramiz Raja expressed his disappointment on Twitter and said that "New Zealand will hear us at ICC".[22] Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar also reacted on New Zealand's decision to pull out of the series and said "New Zealand just killed Pakistan cricket".[23] Pakistan's team captain Babar Azam also took to Twitter to express his displeasure over the cancellation of the series, saying he was "extremely disappointed" and stated that he has the full trust in Pakistan's security agencies.[24]
The New Zealand cricket board chief executive David White said in a statement that they had no choice but to call off the tour of Pakistan.[25] White later said that "there was no way we could stay in the country" following the advice they were given, but also thanked the PCB for their professionalism.[26] Former New Zealand all-rounder Grant Elliott also reacted to the news and said, "Sad news for players and fans".[27]
On 20 September 2021, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced that both their men's and women's tours to the country in October 2021 had been cancelled,[28] citing issues around wellbeing and concerns of travelling to the region.[29] Australia, which are also scheduled to tour Pakistan in 2022, said that said they are monitoring the situation and will "talk with the relevant authorities once more information becomes known."[30]
Squads
[edit]| ODIs | T20Is | ||
|---|---|---|---|
 Pakistan[31]
|
 New Zealand[32]
|
Pakistan[33]
|
New Zealand[34]
|
Usman Qadir, Shahnawaz Dahani and Fakhar Zaman were named as travelling reserves in Pakistan's T20I squad.[35] Ahead of the tour Pakistan's Mohammad Nawaz tested positive for COVID-19.[36] Pakistan named a squad of twenty players for the ODI series,[37] with twelve of those being selected for the first match.[38]
New Zealand's Tom Blundell was ruled out of the ODI series due to an injury,[39] with Daryl Mitchell named as his replacement.[40]
ODI series
[edit]1st ODI
[edit]2nd ODI
[edit]3rd ODI
[edit]T20I series
[edit]1st T20I
[edit]2nd T20I
[edit]3rd T20I
[edit]4th T20I
[edit]5th T20I
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Black Caps divvy up $2.27 million in prizemoney, eye first world title defence in India". Stuff. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
- ^ "New Zealand hopeful of touring Pakistan before T20 World Cup". Geo TV. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
- ^ "PCB decides to eliminate two-match Test series from 2023". The News International. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
- ^ "New Zealand optimistic of touring Pakistan after 18 years". The News International. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
- ^ "Black Caps vs Pakistan: Tour abandoned due to government security alert". Stuff. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
- ^ "PCB statement". Pakistan Cricket Board. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
- ^ "Security alert: New Zealand call off Pakistan tour minutes before first ODI". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
- ^ "Blackcaps to tour Pakistan twice in 2022-23". New Zealand Cricket. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
- ^ "New Zealand to tour Pakistan twice in 2022-23". Pakistan Cricket Board. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
- ^ "New Zealand to tour Pakistan twice in 2022-23 to make up for postponed series". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
- ^ "Black Caps to tour Pakistan twice in 2022/2023". Stuff. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
- ^ "Pakistan announces New Zealand tour itinerary". Pakistan Cricket Board. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
- ^ "New Zealand to tour Pakistan for first time in 18 years". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
- ^ "Black Caps' first tour of Pakistan in 18 years confirmed amid four-month offshore stretch". Stuff. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
- ^ "Tom Latham to lead New Zealand in Bangladesh and Pakistan with IPL-bound players unavailable". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
- ^ "Black Caps' Pakistan tour subject to security reassessment as players raise concerns". Stuff. 17 August 2021. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
- ^ "New Zealand's tour of Pakistan subject to security clearance after Taliban takeover of Afghanistan". Hindustan Times. 19 August 2021. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
- ^ "Schedule for inaugural World Test Championship announced". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
- ^ "Men's Future Tours Programme" (PDF). International Cricket Council. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
- ^ "Pakistan-New Zealand ODIs not to be part of World Cup Super League". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
- ^ "Pakistan-New Zealand ODIs status changed". Pakistan Cricket Board. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
- ^ "PAK vs NZ: "NZ Will Hear Us At ICC", PCB Chief Ramiz Raja Reacts To New Zealand's Decision To Pull Out Of Tour | Cricket News". NDTVSports.com. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
- ^ "'NZ just killed Pakistan cricket': Shoaib Akhtar, Ramiz Raja react to New Zealand abandoning Pakistan tour". Hindustan Times. 17 September 2021. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
- ^ "PCB Chief Ramiz Raja Talks Tough, Says 'NZ Will Hear Us at ICC'; Babar Azam 'Disappointed' With New Zealand". www.news18.com. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
- ^ "New Zealand's tour of Pakistan abandoned due to security concerns". ANI News. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
- ^ "'There was no way we could stay in the country' - New Zealand chief David White". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
- ^ "Pak vs NZ: Foreign cricketers vouch for Pakistan's security as New Zealand bow out over 'alert'". Geo.tv. 17 September 2021. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
- ^ "Official Statement from the ECB Board on Pakistan tour". England and Wales Cricket Board. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
- ^ "England withdraw from October tours to Pakistan". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
- ^ "Cricket Australia hints at reconsidering decision of Pakistan tour". Dunya News. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
- ^ "Pakistan name 20-player ODI squad for New Zealand series". Pakistan Cricket Board. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
- ^ "T20 World Cup squad revealed: McConchie and Sears called up for Bangladesh/Pakistan". New Zealand Cricket. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
- ^ "Sharjeel Khan dropped from T20 World Cup squad; Asif Ali, Khushdil Shah make 15-man cut". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
- ^ "Black Caps announce Twenty20 World Cup squad, two debutants for leadup tours with stars absent". Stuff. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
- ^ "Asif and Khushdil return for ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2021". Pakistan Cricket Board. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
- ^ "Mohammad Nawaz tests positive for Covid-19 ahead of New Zealand series". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
- ^ "Pakistan pick four uncapped players for New Zealand ODIs". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
- ^ "Pakistan name 12 for first ODI". Pakistan Cricket Board. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
- ^ "Black Caps vs Pakistan: Coach backs Colin de Grandhomme to fire as Tom Blundell ruled out". Stuff. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
- ^ "Tom Blundell ruled out of Pakistan ODIs; Daryl Mitchell to join squad". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 16 September 2021.