NZ vs PAK, 1st Test: Christchurch Game To Go Ahead As Scheduled Despite Earthquake

Nov 14, 2016 at 11:34 AM

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NZ vs PAK, 1st Test: Christchurch Game To Go Ahead As Scheduled Despite Earthquake

The horrific 7.4 magnitude earthquake in Christchurch on Monday will have no effect on the first Test between New Zealand and Pakistan starting from November 17 as the match is expected to go ahead as scheduled.

The Pakistani team was in Nelson when the earthquake struck the City. However, no one was injured as they were escorted out safely of their hotels.

The teams arrived in Christchurch on Monday and are expected to participate in their training sessions scheduled on Tuesday.

A New Zealand Cricket spokesperson revealed the cricket board is preparing to host the first match but at the same time they are in touch with the authorities to ensure the safety of the players.

As quoted in ESPNcricinfo, the New Zealand Cricket spokesperson said: “Preparations for the Test are going ahead, but we are continuing to monitor the situation.It’s just a case of staying in touch with authorities.”

Meanwhile, the area is still experiencing the aftershocks. A 6.3 magnitude earthquake was experienced on Monday afternoon and reports suggest the tremors will continue through the next week.

Pakistan team manager Wasim Bari had said although all members of the team are safe, they’ve been left terrified by the incident.

He said:“We are staying at a hotel in Nielsen, where we were playing our tour match but today when the earthquake came it was a terrifying experience as everything was shaking badly and we were safely escorted out of the hotel.”

NZC had vowed to keep the visiting team safe in the team hotel as well as on the ground. Wari said the traumatised players did not return to their rooms after the quake and instead stayed in the reception area.

“For us, it was something new because we don’t have many earthquakes in Pakistan,” Bari said. “This was a pretty strong one. We’d just finished watching the India-England match and the doors and windows were going from one side to another as if they were made of paper. There was some trauma as well for the boys. Back home, the families had felt disturbed.”

New Zealand fast bowler Matt Henry, who resides in Christchurch, expressed his delight on the match being played as scheduled and said that it will help the people to get over the incident.

“It always brings the community together – provides a brief moment of normality,” Henry said. “It’s probably good timing to have the Test match this week. Hopefully, the weather plays its part.”

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