New Zealand Cricket compensates PCB for abandoned tour

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has decided to compensate the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for losses incurred due to their abandoned tour of Pakistan last year.

In September 2021, New Zealand had abruptly called off their tour of Pakistan citing a security alert. The decision was made just hours before the first of three one-dayers in Rawalpindi with the New Zealand team not travelling to the stadium.

New Zealand were visiting Pakistan for the first time in 18 years and were also due to play five Twenty20 matches in Lahore.

According to Cricket Pakistan, the actual amount of the compensation has not been revealed but it is estimated to be in millions of dollars.

It must be noted that, after the tour was called off, PCB Chairman Ramiz Raja had clearly stated that the board would seek compensation even if it had to approach the International Cricket Council (ICC).

However, the matter has been resolved before ICC’s intervention and cordial relationship has been restored between PCB and NZC.

It must be noted that PCB suffered significant losses, in terms of hotel booking, security, marketing and broadcasting, due to the cancellation of the tour.

The PCB is also optimistic about a profitable series against New Zealand in May next year, when the Kiwis will visit Pakistan for five ODIs and as many T20I matches.

Pakistan are also set to participate in a T20 tri-nation series in New Zealand, later this year.

The other team taking part in the series, which will be held before the T20 World Cup, will be Bangladesh.

The proposal was sent by New Zealand Cricket during April’s ICC conference in Dubai.

The matches will help the teams involved prepare adequately for the World Cup in Australia.

The likely window for the series is between late September and early October.