ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Police has “refused” to provide security for the upcoming New Zealand series, sources said on Saturday.
“Police do not have the resources to provide security,” sources in the police department told JEE News, claiming that it was the responsibility of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to ensure resources for security.
Sources said that police personnel are busy performing their duties in free flour distribution centers, ongoing census and other activities related to the holy month of Ramadan.
The One Day International (ODI) and T20 International (T20I) series is scheduled to begin on April 14 in Lahore, with three matches – one ODI and two T20Is – to be played in Rawalpindi. Visiting teams stay at a hotel in the capital and travel to the Pindi Cricket Stadium for matches.
The visiting team will leave for Pakistan on April 9 after concluding their T20I series against Sri Lanka.
A similar case came to light during the eighth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) in February, when the caretaker Punjab government refused to fund the lighting routes in the cities where the matches were to be held.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) management committee chairman Najam Sethi then approached Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and later, the caretaker government agreed to share the cost of “lighting for the routes”.
Pakistan vs 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 – First ODI, Rawalpindi
April 30 – Second ODI, Karachi
May 3 – 3rd ODI, Karachi
May 5 – 4th ODI, Karachi
May 7 – 5th ODI, Karachi
