![](https://nation.com.pk/assets/thenation/images/no-image-large.jpg)
ISLAMABAD – Pakistani intelligence sources say there was no security threat to the New Zealand cricket team and excellent security cover was provided during their visit to Pakistan.
Top intelligence officials who wish not to be named said yesterday they were disappointed over the abrupt decision of the New Zealand government to cancel the cricket team visit to Pakistan merely citing “security alert” which was never shared with Pakistan.
The New Zealand cricket team visit was cancelled by the New Zealand government a few hours before the start of the match in Rawalpindi due to security concerns.
A report published in the New Zealand Herald claimed that the decision to call back the cricket team was based on an intelligence report from “Five Eyes”, an intelligence alliance of US, Canada, New Zealand and UK.
The newspaper claimed that the five-nation intelligence alliance, Five Eyes, had issued an alert that there could be an attack on the New Zealand team outside the stadium.
On security matters, New Zealand authorities trust the reports issued by the “Five Eyes” as credible and reliable.
The newspaper report further said that after receiving an alert from Five Eyes, the chairman of the New Zealand Cricket Board telephoned the chairman of the PCB and informed him of the decision to cancel the tour.
The PCB chairman informed Prime Minister Imran Khan who was in Dushanbe and decided to speak to his NZ counterpart on phone.
The two prime ministers also spoke to each other on phone, and discussed the matter in detail; however, the NZ Prime Minister said the decision of her government was final.
According to the sources, she also shared a “security alert” with Prime Minister Imran Khan on phone but did not give details as to who shared it with them.