Pakistani Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed stated that the protection of the New Zealand team was entrusted to more individuals than all of Pakistan’s forces combined. He also stated that there was never any threat to security.
The visit was cancelled by the New Zealand government due to a Five Eyes intelligence report. New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom form the Five Eyes intelligence alliance.
Sheikh Rasheed’s press appearance comes after New Zealand abruptly withdrew from Pakistan on Friday at the eleventh hour, citing “security threats.”
Sheikh Rasheed then brought up the issue of the alleged threat notice to the New Zealand team. The minister enquired, “Where were these five countries that issued the threat alert while the security experts were visiting Pakistan and the team was exercising on the same ground?”
Sheikh Rasheed also praised Pakistan’s intelligence services, calling them the best and most powerful in the world.
He was of the view that the New Zealand cricket team was not in danger since the team was given foolproof protection, including the deployment of army commandos, and that the Black Caps made the choice to cancel the tour on their own.
