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New Zealand cancel Pakistan tour

Image: New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori

New Zealand have cancelled their planned tour of Pakistan in December following the attack on Sri Lanka's team bus in Lahore.

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Decision is confirmed by NZC chief executive

New Zealand have cancelled their planned tour of Pakistan in December following the attack on Sri Lanka's team bus. Justin Vaughan, the chief executive of New Zealand Cricket (NZC), said there was no way the trip could go ahead. Gunmen opened fire on Sri Lanka's team bus as it arrived outside the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Tuesday morning for the third day of the second Test against Pakistan. Six police officers and two civilians were killed, and seven Sri Lanka team members injured in the incident. "The tour has been called off," Vaughan told New Zealand radio. "We are not going, I think that's pretty clear." "And I don't think any international team will be going to Pakistan in the foreseeable future."

Neutral venue

Vaughan did not rule out rescheduling the series at a neutral venue. "We will meet with Pakistan authorities next time we see them, which will probably be either at ICC (International Cricket Council) meetings in April or June, and then talk about what the options are," he added. "I think the options would probably revolve around playing at a neutral venue -they have played previous games in the Gulf States, in Abu Dhabi - and we'd want to assess Pakistan's thinking about that."

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