Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry said the federal cabinet approved the extraordinary security plan for New Zealand’s tour to Pakistan, as they are visiting Pakistan after 18-year.

Earlier, New Zealand’s tour to Pakistan was cut short in 2002, as a bomb exploded outside the team’s hotel in Karachi. New Zealand played an ODI series in 2003, however, there have been no tours to Pakistan since.

Fawad said that “extraordinary” security would be provided to the New Zealand team, as an unfortunate incident had happened during their tour to Pakistan “last time”.

Moreover, Chief Selector Muhammad Waseem has announced Pakistan’s squad for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup, which is scheduled to take place from October 17.

Mohammad announced a 15-man squad, where 3 players were selected as reserves. The same team will play the home series against New Zealand and England in the coming weeks.

The 15-man squad:

Babar Azam (captain), Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Asif Ali, Azam Khan (wicketkeeper), Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Imad Wasim, Khushdil Shah,

Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sohaib Maqsood

Travelling reserves:

Fakhar Zaman, Shahnawaz Dahani, and Usman Qadir