New Zealand squad touches down in Auckland after Pakistan tour pull-out

New Zealand’s 24-member squad arrived home on Wednesday (22 September) after the abrupt cancellation of their Pakistan tour amid security concerns. The Kiwis were on their first tour in the Asian nation after 18 years and were supposed to play eight white-ball games until the first week of October, however, a security intel suggesting a threat to player security led to their opting out moments before the start of the first ODI in Rawalpindi on September 17.

The squad touched down in Auckland after flying from Dubai and will practice a mandatory 14-day hotel quarantine according to the New Zealand government protocols. As many as eight first-choice players from New Zealand ranks were missing due to the series’ clash with the ongoing edition of the Indian Premier League.

New Zealand’s stand-in skipper Tom Latham confessed that the team had a hectic 24 hours once they learned about the series cancellation at the last moment.

Latham thanked the Pakistan authorities for keeping their players safe, while he also said that the cancellation must be disappointing for their fans.

Pakistan authorities were brilliant: Tom Latham

“It’s naturally very disappointing for them [Pakistan and their fans]. It was something they were very proud of. I remember doing the captain’s round with Babar [Azam] the day before and just seeing how happy he was to have international cricket and have us there. He was very excited and it was a historic moment for New Zealand Cricket to be back there 18 years since they were last there.”

“To be part of that was going to be something special, but obviously things changed. NZC acted swiftly along with the people on the ground in Pakistan. While we were there after the decision, the Pakistan authorities were brilliant. They kept us safe at the hotel and we certainly need to thank them,” Tom Latham said as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

Revealing what transpired on the day of cancellation, he said: “It was like a normal game day. We were leaving at 12:30, and then I got a message on my WhatsApp group that we were having a team meeting at 12’o clock. Everyone was sort of wondering what was up and then we got told the news that we were heading home.”