CHRISTCHURCH (New Zealand), Nov 25: International Cricket Council (ICC) chairman Ehsan Mani said on Tuesday Pakistan will be safe for the New Zealand cricketers during their upcoming tour.

An under-strength team leaves for Pakistan on Wednesday for a five-match one-day series.

Mani, who was here with ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed, was certain the 12-day tour would be trouble free.

The New Zealand team delayed visiting Pakistan after their recent one-day series in India because of threats made against them if they toured during the Muslim holy month of Ramazan.

Mani said cricket was played in Pakistan during Ramazan without any problem and England recently visited a nearby Muslim country, Bangladesh.

“But there was a threat made and New Zealand did the right thing by stepping back and assessing it. There was great cooperation between the boards and the ICC was kept informed.”—AFP