Don’t blame players for cancellation, they simply acted on govt’s advise: McClenaghan to Hafeez

Mitchell McClenaghan was reacting to a sarcastic tweet by batsman Mohammed Hafeez on Saturday on eve of the departure of the New Zealand team from Pakistan.

The side was set to play Pakistan on Friday in the first of three ODIs in Rawalpindi, before moving to Lahore for a five-match T20 series (File)

New Zealand players shouldn’t be blamed for the cancellation of the tour of Pakistan as they were just following the advice of their government, said Kiwi pacer Mitchell McClenaghan.

The 35-year-old pacer was reacting to a sarcastic tweet by batsman Mohammed Hafeez on Saturday on eve of the departure of the New Zealand team from Pakistan.

“Come now bro. This has a bad taste to it. Don’t blame the players or the organisation, blame our government. They have only acted on the advice they have received. I’m absolutely certain these young men all wanting to prove themselves wanted to play. they had no choice,” McClenaghan wrote on his twitter handle.

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On Saturday, Hafeez had taken a dig at New Zealand Cricket (NZC) for calling off their tour of Pakistan citing security threats.

“Thanks to the secutity of pakistan forces to make arrangements to BLACKCAPS to reach at airport Safe & Sound. Wonder same route & same security but no threat today???,” Hafeez had tweeted.

Thanks to the secutity of pakistan forces to make arrangements to @BLACKCAPS to reach at airport Safe & Sound. Wonder same route & same security but no threat today??? pic.twitter.com/mwxq6AFjyT

— Mohammad Hafeez (@MHafeez22) September 18, 2021

Remember the date guys. This is where you respond to them with full strength. pic.twitter.com/ZSDgsfUu7j

— Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) September 18, 2021

New Zealand had arrived in Pakistan on September 11 for a white-ball series after 18 years and were scheduled to play three ODIs and five T20 Internationals.

But New Zealand Cricket (NZC) called off the series abruptly on Friday just before the first One-Day International at the Rawalpindi stadium, citing they had received a serious security threat.

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