Fearing backlash, New Zealand Cricket Board has turned off the comment sections on its official Twitter account. The board had shared a video of New Zealand players reaching Auckland from Dubai after returning from Pakistan.
The video showed cricketers coming out of the plane. The New Zealand Cricket Board captioned the tweet: “The 24 strong BLACKCAPS touring squad have arrived home into Auckland from Dubai and will shortly begin the mandatory 14 days in MIQ.”
New Zealand Cricket Board feared online vitriol after they had abruptly called off the series during their stay in Pakistan last week. The team feared a strong outpour of reactions on social media hence they probably turned off the comments.
Comments turn off.. https://t.co/aSHV3dZ30A
— Safeer Ahmed (@safeerahmed40) September 22, 2021
Why turn off the comments if the 24 are so “strong”, allow the comments and their 14 days quarantine will become easy for them. https://t.co/22NEoSptPz
— Rabia Anum Obaid (@RabiaAnumm) September 22, 2021
Read more: Last minute New Zealand team pull-out caused by Five Eyes
Despite, turning off the comments, Pakistani cricket fans still slammed the cricketers and cricket board. Netizens challenged the cricket board to open the comments on social media.
No security threat to New Zealand
Meanwhile, on Monday, Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed said Pakistan tasked more people for the New Zealand team’s security than its forces combined. He also reiterated that there never was any security threat.
Sheikh Rasheed’s press conference comes after New Zealand decided to pull out of Pakistan at the eleventh hour on Friday amid “security threats.” The New Zealand government called off the tour on the basis of an intelligence report by Five Eyes. Five Eyes is an intelligence alliance of New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom.
On that note, Sheikh Rasheed raised the question of the supposed threat alert to the New Zealand team.
24 cowards arrived back to one of the coward nation on this earth..@BLACKCAPS #BlackHeartCaps https://t.co/yJVB16LQVD
— Muhammad Umar Shehzad Khan🇵🇰 (@IamUmarShehzad) September 22, 2021
Read more: Maryam Nawaz mocks PM Khan over cancellation of New Zealand tour
“Where were these five countries that issued the threat alert when the security experts were visiting Pakistan and the team was practicing on the same ground?” the minister asked.
Sheikh Rasheed also lauded Pakistan’s intelligence, terming it the best and the strongest in the world. Following New Zealand, England Cricket Board also have canceled their tour to Pakistan.