PCB unperturbed by reported Kiwi security concerns

KARACHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Friday categorically said that it was not worried or bothered by reports that some New Zealand players had apprehensions about touring Pakistan for a bilateral One-day series in August due to security concerns.
Shafqat Naghmi, a senior PCB official, said the Board was not aware of such apprehensions and even their counterparts had not conveyed to them anything on the matter as yet.
"It is something between them and their board, If they don't send their best team they will lose out so we are not bothered," Naghmi said.
"We have got nothing on security issues from New Zealand cricket officially or unofficially and we don't even know if and when they will send their security delegation to Pakistan for inspection," he added.
New Zealand all rounder Jacob Oram was quoted as saying in media that some players had issues with playing in Pakistan and the security concerns figured in the team meetings.
There has been talk about New Zealand sending a new look side to Pakistan if their senior players pull out at the last moment.
New Zealand are due to play three One-Day Internationals on August 24th, 27th and 30th before the Champions Trophy from September 11.
Naghmi said if any team decides to pull out of the Champions Trophy despite security clearance from the ICC and assurances of state level security arrangements by the host country, then the PCB could not do anything about it.
Australia had also postponed a Test tour to Pakistan in March because of security reasons.