Kane Williamson reacts to abandonment of Pakistan tour, terms it 'real shame'

New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson hopes that abandonment of the Pakistan tour does not have any negative effect on cricket in the country. Over the years, teams have refrained from travelling to Pakistan due to security issues. However, Pakistan managed to convince few teams to come and play in the country in a bid to resume cricket in the country. 

The New Zealand tour and the following England series were seen as a big step forward. However, their plans hit a massive bump after New Zealand’s withdrawal which also put England's upcoming tour to Pakistan in jeopardy. 

“They were obviously over there, ready to go to the ground. It is a sudden thing that happened. I certainly hope there is no lasting impact from it because it is a special place for cricket to be and there have been a lot of strides forward to see cricket go back into Pakistan and play there safely. We have seen that happen on a number of occasions, so hopefully, there is plenty more cricket there to come,” Williamson said via Sportstar.

Williamson said he’s not aware of the exact details of the events but termed it as a real shame. The skipper said the fans in Pakistan are passionate about cricket and he feels sorry for them. “I don’t know the details of yesterday. It was a sudden call, but obviously, a real shame. Cricket in Pakistan is an amazing thing and so well supported. There is so much passion there and I think the guys will be gutted to not have started and playing the whole series. But I am not sure of the details since I am in Dubai for the IPL. I will find out a bit more about it over the next few days,” said Williamson.

The 31-year-old said that cricket should be played in Pakistan, like any other country but added that players’ safety is paramount. “I certainly hope not. You want to be playing the game in all countries. It is an international game and there is so much passion for it around the world, particularly in Pakistan. It was really exciting to see the series go back there and I know our team was looking forward to it. Players’ safety is paramount and when you hear messages going through from the government, it is certainly above the players’ heads.”