Cricket: NZ not going to Pakistan any time soon

Rumman Raees of Pakistan celebrates after dismissing Tom Bruce of the Black Caps. Photo / Getty

New Zealand's cricket bosses will sit down soon and have a good think about the idea of playing T20 internationals in Pakistan later this year.

They will look at Lahore, the most likely location, and weigh up the pros (minimal) and cons (substantial) about going there for the first time since 2003, the year after a bomb blast outside their hotel cut that tour short.

They will have some sympathy for the cricket people of Pakistan, will wish them well, will accept that some T20 cricket has been played there in the last three years and then tell their Pakistan counterparts 'thanks but no thanks'.

New Zealand are due to play Pakistan in their de facto home in the United Arab Emirates in October and November. Pakistan are keen to get New Zealand there solely for the shortest component of the three-test, three-ODI and three-T20 tour.

It won't happen.

New Zealand Cricket's memories are long, as are those of the players who were there in 2002.

New Zealand did play five ODIs there a year later, and lost the lot, and since the Sri Lankan team bus was attacked in Lahore in 2009 the only cricket there has been short form matches against Zimbabwe (2015), a World XI in both September last year and last month, and a one-off game against Sri Lanka last October.

Another point to consider.

The government's travel advisory website lists Pakistan as 'extreme', or 'high' risk as a destination, depending on which part of the country you look at.

'Extreme' applies to what's known as the federally-administered tribal areas, such as the old North-West Frontier; 'high' is what it sounds — high risk due to the threat of terrorism, kidnapping and ''the unpredictable security situation''. That includes the likes of Lahore and Karachi, the key cricket locations.

''We advise against all tourist and other non-essential travel,'' it states.

What chance NZC would be able to get insurance for their players if they did choose to accept Pakistan's invitation?

Insurance is in place for teams wherever they travel. The expectation must be no insurance would be obtained for that trip.

New Zealand's attitude, perhaps coming out of the 2002 blast, differs from countries such as Zimbabwe or the West Indies, for whom a chunk of cash would seem to make the idea worth considering.

At the recent International Cricket Council meeting in Kolkata, there was a re-stating of the governing body's desire to assist Pakistan in their efforts to again host regular cricket.

They may sound like a bland nod, but they can scarcely do anything else.
Australia are due to play Pakistan in September and October, with three tests drafted in for the UAE.

The Aussies have come out and made plain they won't countenance a shift to play in Pakistan.

So in case you were thinking yesterday's flagging of an offer to New Zealand suggests the door might be being prised open for matches in Pakistan again, think twice.

For New Zealand, at least, it's not about to happen any time soon.