NZ squad arrives home, captain thanks Pakistan for keeping players safe

New Zealand cricketer Tom Latham speaks during a press conference in Sydney, Australia, on January 2, 2020. (AFP/File)

• Tour was called off by NZ on the day the first one-day international was due to be played after a “specific and credible”
• Tom Latham, New Zealand’s stand-in captain for the canceled tour, says withdrawal was “naturally very disappointing”

New Zealand’s cricket squad arrived home on Wednesday, with their stand-in captain Tom Latham praising Pakistani authorities for keeping them safe during their stay. 
New Zealand’s withdrawal dealt a massive blow to Pakistan’s hopes of staging regular international cricket, with England subsequently calling off their men’s and women’s tours.
The tour was called off on the day the first one-day international was due to be played after a “specific and credible” threat directed at the New Zealand squad, New Zealand Cricket boss David White said.
Latham thanked Pakistan authorities for keeping the squad safe.
“While we were there after the decision, the Pakistan authorities were brilliant,” he said.
“We certainly need to thank them.”
The withdrawal and England’s subsequent cancelation drew a furious reaction from Pakistan’s cricket board, with chairman Ramiz Raja saying the nation had been “used and binned” by the game’s Western bloc.
Latham said it was “naturally very disappointing” for Pakistan and their fans.
“It was something they were very proud of,” he said.
“It was a historic moment for New Zealand Cricket to be back there 18 years since they were last there.”
“To be part of that was going to be something special, but obviously things changed.”