New Zealand team was sent from India ‘threat of terrorist attack‘
Pakistan’s Information and Broadcasting Minister Fawad Chaudhry has alleged that the device with which the threat was sent to the New Zealand cricket team was linked to India.
Fawad Chaudhry said that ‘this whole matter started when someone posted a fake post claiming to be the extremist Ehsullah Ehsan of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
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Fawad Chaudhry said that in August a fake post was posted in Ehsan’s name saying that the New Zealand government should refrain from sending their team to Pakistan as they would be “targeted” there.
He said that after this fake post, the Indian news website ‘The Sunday Guardian’ Bureau Chief Abhinandan Mishra published a news which claimed that the New Zealand team could be attacked in Pakistan.
Fawad Chaudhry said, “Interestingly, Abhinandan Mishra has a strong relationship with former Vice President of Afghanistan Amrullah Saleh.”
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Chaudhary said that on August 24, the wife of New Zealand opener Martin Guptill had received a threatening email.
According to Fawad Chaudhry, “When we checked it, it was found that this email is not linked to any social media account and it was the only email sent from this ID.”
Chaudhary says that this email was sent through a secure service called ProtonMail.
“Not much information is available about this email and we have asked Interpol for help in this regard,” he said.
- What did the New Zealand media say?
Earlier, news was published in Pakistani newspapers quoting New Zealand media that after inputs from intelligence agencies of five countries, the New Zealand government decided to cancel the cricket tour.
According to the report published in Pakistan’s newspaper Express, a joint organization of intelligence agencies of New Zealand, Australia, America, Canada and Britain had said in its report that the New Zealand team visiting Pakistan is in serious danger.
The New Zealand cricket team reached Pakistan but a few minutes before the start of the match at the Rawalpindi Stadium, they refused to play the match citing security reasons.
New Zealand Cricket (NZC) said Pakistan was an “excellent host” but players’ safety was “paramount”.
The New Zealand cricket team reached Pakistan after 18 years on September 11 to play three ODIs and five 20-20 international matches.
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According to the PCB, Pakistan had complete security arrangements for all the incoming teams and had also given full assurance to New Zealand Cricket.
The PCB had said that the New Zealand team was satisfied with the security arrangements throughout their stay but their last-minute decision has caused frustration.
The ODI series against New Zealand was to be played at the Rawalpindi Stadium, with matches scheduled for September 17, 19 and 21. Whereas five T20 matches were to be held at Gaddafi Stadium from 25 September to 3 October.
After New Zealand, England also canceled their men’s and women’s team’s tour of Pakistan in October citing security reasons.
After the cancellation of the England cricket team’s tour of Pakistan after New Zealand, there is a lot of disappointment among the cricket players, officials and cricket lovers there.
The newly-appointed chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Rameez Raja had criticized the decision of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and said that an excuse was being made about security in Pakistan.
By issuing a video statement, Rameez Raja had said that a group of western countries gathers together and takes such decisions.
On this whole incident, he had said that the attitude of these countries towards Pakistan has not changed.
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