Bizzare! Pakistan security personnel deployed for New Zealand consumed biryani worth Rs 2.8 million: Reports

Pakistan’s information minister Fawad Chaudhry recently claimed that PTV suffered massively in the aftermath of New Zealand’s abandonment of Pakistan tour, minutes before the tour-opener.

Now, reports have started circulating that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) allegedly spent nearly Rs 3 million in food bills for the officers, who were in charge of security during the series, in just eight days.

Anandabazar Patrika reported that PCB have received a biryani bill of Rs 2.8 million for security officials hired for New Zealand team before the tour got abandoned. The reports further added that each security personnel was served biriyani twice a day.

The report further added that there were more than 500 policemen, including five SPs and SSPs, guarding the cricketers.

New Zealand abandoned the series citing a government “security alert” on the day when the first match of the three-match ODIs in Rawalpindi was due to start. The tour was then supposed to moved to Lahore for a five-match T20 series.

New Zealand’s cricket squad arrived home on Wednesday (September 22). The cricket board had said that they were aware of a “specific and credible” threat but did not give details.

International cricket in Pakistan was suspended in the aftermath of terror attacks against the Sri Lankan side in 2009, but has slowly revived over the past two years.

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.