New Zealand Paid Compensation to the PCB for Abruptly Ending a Tour Last Year

New Zealand Paid Compensation to the PCB for Abruptly Ending a Tour Last Year

KARACHI: The New Zealand Cricket Board has paid compensation to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for abruptly ending a tour in September 2021 last year.

New Zealand repaired the PCB for ending the tour of Pakistan by correcting the mistake, although the actual amount was not disclosed but it is several million dollars, the Kiwis will also tour for additional 10 white ball matches in May next year. That includes 5 ODIs and as many T20s, the board will have even bigger profits. Relations between the two boards have returned to normal, so Pakistan has decided to accept an invitation to participate in the triangular series in Christchurch in October.

The tour to New Zealand will be confirmed after the Asia Cup is scheduled for the home series consisting of 7 T20 International matches against England in September and October. According to the details, the Kiwi cricket team had come to Pakistan in September last year to participate in a series consisting of 3 ODIs and 5 T20 matches, 

but on the day the first ODI was to be played in Rawalpindi, the visiting team returned home citing unreliable security concerns. The Kiwis could not stop the phone call of the then Prime Minister Imran Khan's counterpart Jacinda Ardern, so after 18 years, the fans' wish to see the New Zealand team play in Pakistan remained unfulfilled. 

Compensation is paid for hotel booking, security, marketing, broadcast (Photo)

After that, England also postponed its tour. 

Chairman PCB Rameez Raja had announced at that time that compensation would be received from New Zealand. Sources said that the matter has been resolved, there was no need to go to the council and New Zealand Cricket has paid compensation to Pakistan which is several million dollars. The PCB had incurred a financial loss of crores of rupees in hotel booking, security, marketing, broadcast and other details, details of which were sent to the Kiwis, who later realized that the threat was not credible and the tour should not end. So, to calm Pakistan's anger, it agreed to tour in May 2023 for 10 additional white ball matches, including 5 ODIs and the same number of T20s. 

This will be of great financial benefit to the PCB. The rift in the relationship between the two boards is now gone and the warmth of the past has returned, the sources added, adding that Pakistan will participate in the triangular series in Christchurch in October. The tour to New Zealand will be confirmed after the schedule of 7 T20 home series against England in September, October. The Bangladesh team will also participate in the event. The Kiwis will release the schedule of the triangular series after receiving the green signal from Pakistan. 

On the other hand, the PCB spokesperson confirmed that New Zealand Cricket had paid compensation to Pakistan for leaving the tour incomplete, but declined to give details. Asked about the Asia Cup, he said, "We have not received any update in this regard. The Asian Cricket Council will decide the event." It may be recalled that the Black Caps had announced their departure on September 17, 2021, just before the start of the first ODI in Rawalpindi, citing security concerns, after which tensions between the two boards erupted. Later, England also withdrew from sending its men's and women's teams to Pakistan. PCB chairman Rameez Raja announced that he would ask New Zealand to pay compensation.