The Islamabad police has said on Sunday that they were “fully equipped” to provide end-to-end “fool-proof and world-class” security to the New Zealand cricket team during their upcoming series in which five T20I and five One Day International (ODI) matches will be played.
The Black Caps are scheduled to arrive in Pakistan on April 9 (today) for the limited-overs series set to begin on April 14 in Lahore.
A day earlier, sources in the police department told Geo News that police have refused to provide security, saying they “do not have resources” and claimed that it is the responsibility of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to provide the same for security.
The sources said that police personnel are busy with deployment at free flour distribution centres, ongoing census and other activities related to the holy month of Ramadan.
However, Inspector General of Police Dr Akbar Nasir Khan has now said that the Islamabad police have provided the highest level of security during the visit of the English cricket team and Pakistan Super League’s (PSL) eighth edition “flawlessly” in 2022-23.
“Police shall be playing a key role for provision of flawless security in collaboration with other stakeholders in Islamabad and Rawalpindi,” he assured.
The touring teams stay at a hotel in the capital and travel to the Pindi Cricket Stadium for matches.
Pakistan v New Zealand schedule:
April 14 — 1st T20I, Lahore
April 15 — 2nd T20I, Lahore
April 17 — 3rd T20I, Lahore
April 20 — 4th T20I, Rawalpindi
April 24 — 5th T20I, Rawalpindi
April 26 — 1st ODI, Rawalpindi
April 30 — 2nd ODI, Karachi
May 3 — 3rd ODI, Karachi
May 5 — 4th ODI, Karachi
May 7 — 5th ODI, Karachi
