Breaking | PCB CEO Wasim Khan Urgent Press conference on Future Plan| PAK vs NZ Series Postponement

#wasimkhan #pakvsnz #pakistancricket PCB CEO wasim khan Press conference BLACKCAPS ARRIVE IN DUBAI The BLACKCAPS have arrived in Dubai after leaving Islamabad on a charter flight last night (New Zealand time). The contingent of 34 players and support staff are now settling into their Dubai hotel and undergoing their 24-hour period of self-isolation. Of this group, 24 will return to New Zealand over the next week or so, as flights and MIQ rooms in New Zealand become available. The MIQ arrangements initially booked for these squad members at the end of the Pakistan tour will now be cancelled. The balance of the touring party will remain in the UAE and join up with the BLACKCAPS T20 World Cup squad, ahead of that tournament commencing on October 17. New Zealand Cricket chief executive David White said he was grateful to the Pakistan Cricket Board for helping organise the safe departure of the New Zealand team. “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. Mr White said NZC and the BLACKCAPS had been very much looking forward to the Pakistan series but were faced with no option but to abandon the tour after receiving, on Friday, advice from the New Zealand government of a specific, credible threat. This advice was supported by NZC’s security consultants – who were on the ground in Pakistan, and by other independent sources. While the general tenor of the threat was immediately shared with the PCB, Mr White reiterated that specific details could not, and will not, be disclosed – privately or publicly. “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. “Unfortunately, given the advice we’d received, there was no way we could stay in the country.” Mr White said NZC remained comfortable with its initial decision to tour Pakistan, based on comprehensive assessments of the security situation, and the risk mitigation measures promised. “Everything changed on Friday,” he said. “The advice changed, the threat level changed and, as a consequence, we took the only responsible course of action possible.” The Chief Executive Officer of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Wasim Khan on Sunday said that New Zealand Cricket has set a bad precedent by unilaterally deciding to abandon the Pakistan tour as it has affected Pakistan's credibility. "Our credibility has been affected because of New Zealand's decision, which is a big loss for us," Khan said while speaking during a virtual press conference on Sunday. Wasim said that the PCB had employed efforts day and night to make cricket successful in Pakistan but New Zealand Cricket's unilateral decision will have a long-lasting negative impact on cricket in the country. "We will take up the matter with the International Cricket Council (ICC) and bring the New Zealand Cricket Board to the table," said Khan. "Rest assured, I will say again and again that there was no security breach." He went on to say that the NZ Cricket Board has cancelled the tour based on a five-nation intelligence report. Wasim said that despite Pakistan's requests, the report was deemed to be "confidential information" and was not shared with our intelligence services. "It was hugely disappointing for us considering that this [report] was threatening the tour," he said, adding that sharing the report with Pakistan's intelligence services would have allowed them to mitigate any potential threats so that the tour could have been continued. The CEO added that the security expert for New Zealand had "continuously maintained that Pakistan is safe in terms of security protocols that we have in place, both from a plan and a roll-out perspective." He exemplified the visit of the United Kingdom's royal couple to Pakistan last year that enjoyed the same presidential security. Normally, when threat levels increase, western countries' embassies and foreign missions in Pakistan change their travel advisories but no such thing had happened regarding the "supposed threat," Khan said. " I think the credible information in that report should have been shared [with us]... it sets a very, very dangerous precedent when countries are making unilateral decisions that potentially can have long-term consequences for countries." The PCB CEO said that the board has been in contact with the Bangladesh and Sri Lanka teams and both are willing to come to Pakistan. "Although the two teams have agreed to tour Pakistan, it will not be possible due to logistical issues and a shortage of time," he said