New Zealand Cricket Board informed the Pakistan Cricket Board on Thursday morning that it was "temporarily postponing" the visit of their Cricket Team to Pakistan.

In a communication addressed to PCB, the Chief Executive Martin Snedden, said that their decision was based on the security concerns for their team members, as advised by their Ministry of External Affairs. The team members, currently in transit at Singapore, were being advised to return home. So was the case with their "A" Team, touring India, who were being instructed to fly back.

However, New Zealand Cricket Board Chief Executive Martin Snedden, has said they will continue to monitor the situation as it developed and may consider even an "abbreviated tour depending on the situation." He also offered regrets to PCB over the inconvenience caused by this action.

Director PCB, Brig. Munawar A. Rana, spoke to the Chief Executive of New Zealand Cricket Board Martin Snedden on phone on Thursday and reassured him that the situation in Pakistan with respect to security and playing the game in a safe and secure manner is good. He asked the Chief Executive to monitor and review the situation quickly to help put the tour back on track.

PCB regrets the situation which is well beyond its own control and held out an assurance to all the Organizers of the series that their interests are as safe as can be reasonably expected.


Khalid Butt
Media Manager
September 13, 2001

© PCB