New Zealand get security clearance to tour Pakistan

New Zealand's limited-overs tour of Pakistan this month will go ahead as planned after New Zealand Cricket's (NZC) security team gave clearance for their travel, Cricbuzz reported on Thursday. New Zealand, led by keeper-batter Tom Latham, are set to play three ODIs and five T20Is from September 17 to October 5 at Rawalpindi and Lahore.

Heath Mills, chief executive of the New Zealand Cricket Players Association (NZCPA), confirmed that the security team has given its vote of confidence. Doubts prevailed over the tour owing to the political unrest in neighboring Afghanistan.

"The pre-tour check has been completed and the tour will be continuing as planned so far. We have confidence in the security team and the various arrangements in place for the tour," Mills told Cricbuzz.

After completing the five-match T20I series against Bangladesh on September 10, the Black Caps will arrive in Islamabad on September 11 and undergo quarantine for four days before beginning preparations for the series.

The security team which has ESI security experts Reg Dickason and David Snears, who are also associated with England and Wales Board and Cricket Australia, inspected facilities in Lahore and Islamabad last week. 

"During their visit, they have also met with all the relevant security personnel and discussed security and medical arrangements (bio-secure), following which they submitted their report to the NZC," Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said.

"Reg will stay with the NZ team until the end of their tour, while David will stay until the conclusion of England women's tour of Rawalpindi," the PCB confirmed.

It will be New Zealand's first tour of Pakistan since 2003.