Shoaib Akhtar lashes out at New Zealand Cricket over deportation threat

Former Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Akhtar, in a Youtube video on Thursday, lashed out at New Zealand Cricket (NZC) for threatening to send the Men in Green home.

Pakistan squad has been given final warning by New Zealand’s Ministry of Health after not following the Covid-19 SOPs and any other violations in the future will result in the team being sent back home. 

"New Zealand's comment that if Pakistan's team's SOP (standard operating procedures) is not in place then we will cancel the tour is below the belt," Akhtar said. "I want to give a message to New Zealand board (NZC) that this is not a club team, it's Pakistan national cricket team. We don't need you. Our cricket has not finished. You will get the broadcasting rights money. So, you should be indebted to us that we decided to tour your country in such difficult times."

"You are talking about Pakistan - the greatest country on the planet – so behave yourself and stop giving such statement. Be careful next time. Pakistan team now needs to smash them in T20 series," he added.

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The legendary pacer also wants the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to act tough and to sever ties with New Zealand if the national team is sent back home.

"The PCB should show some toughness," he said. "If I was in their place, I would have given a statement saying that if New Zealand Cricket aren't happy, we won't play them and will bring our team back and we won't play against you for five years."

Akhtar was also critical of PCB for sending the Men in Green to New Zealand on a commercial flight.

"When the tour of England was organised, players were sent on chartered flights," he said. "But this time, first you went to Dubai, then to Kuala Lampur and then to Auckland. Does the PCB's brain not work and realise you could have organised a chartered flight?"

It must be noted that the Men in Green went for England tour on a chartered flight, which significantly reduces the risk of contracting the virus due to minimal interaction with general public.