'Was just unverified threat, could've been discussed' - Shoaib Akhtar on New Zealand's abrupt series cancellation

New Zealand had travelled to Pakistan for a three-match ODI and five-match T20I series. However, the New Zealand cricket team on Friday announced that they have cancelled the series due to security concerns. The Pakistan cricket board, on the other hand, denied the existence of any such threats. After these series of events, the former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar expressed his disappointment.

Ever since this news came out, Shoaib Akhtar has been tweeting his thoughts on the happenings and seemed to have not liked the decision of the Kiwis as he came up with a series of points for New Zealand to make note of.

Akhtar recounted the time when Pakistan stood by New Zealand, and the number of times the nation hosted varied matches successfully. He also stated that Prime Minister Imran Khan had a word with his New Zealand counterpart to assure there was no threat.

Shoaib Akhtar reacts to New Zealand calling off the white ball series against Pakistan

“Following points for New Zealand to remember: “9 Pakistanis were killed in the Christchurch attack. ° Pakistan stood strong with New Zealand.° Pakistan toured New Zealand in the worst of Covid circumstances regardless of the crude treatment by NZ authorities on that tour,” Akhtar’s Tweet read.

He then continued the points in another Tweet and wrote: This was just an unverified threat, it could have been discussed.

“Prime Minister Imran Khan personally spoke to his NZ counterpart and assured but it was still refused.

“Pakistan has safely hosted South Africa, Bangladesh, West Indies, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe & PSL.”

° This was just an unverified threat, it could have been discussed.

° Prime Minister Imran Khan personally spoke to his NZ counterpart and assured but it was still refused.

° Pakistan has safely hosted South Africa, Bangladesh, West Indies, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe & PSL.

— Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) September 17, 2021

The current tour was New Zealand’s first in Pakistan in 18 years. But cancelling it just a few hours before the start of the first ODI did not go well with the Pakistan fans as well. They took it to Twitter to slam the visitors for cancelling the series. However, New Zealand took this decision after the inputs from the security advisors.

“However, following an escalation in the New Zealand Government threat levels for Pakistan, and advice from NZC security advisors on the ground, it has been decided the BLACKCAPS will not continue with the tour,” New Zealand said in their statement.