‘Unsettling and disappointing’: NZ coach reacts after Pakistan tour pullout

New Zealand Head Coach Gary Stead has admitted that what happened in Pakistan, recently, was “unsettling and disappointing”.

According to Stuff, Stead also sympathised with Pakistan cricket and its fans.

“I think they [New Zealand squad] are OK. It was obviously unsettling and disappointing what happened in Pakistan and we certainly feel for the Pakistan cricket fraternity and fans,” Stead said.

He is also looking forward to New Zealand’s T20 World Cup opener against Pakistan on October 26.

“Certainly, being that it’s Pakistan, people will hype that up, but for us it’s no different to any other match we play against them,” he said.

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Stead also said that the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) will also provide players with a good chance to prepare for the mega event.

“That decision [abandoning Pakistan tour] was out of our hands, and the guys are now in Dubai and getting ready, and there’s the IPL that they can have a good look at, which in many ways is good preparation for them as well,” he said.

New Zealand had pulled out of the limited-overs tour of Pakistan on the day of the opening fixture in Rawalpindi, few days back, citing a New Zealand government security alert.

New Zealand had been visiting Pakistan for the first time in 18 years and also had been due to play three ODIs and five Twenty20 matches in Rawalpindi and Lahore.