After spending 24 hours in Singapore, the New Zealand Cricket team is heading home in the wake of the attacks on America.
The Black Caps were en route to Pakistan for a one-day and test tour that was to begin on September 16.
The New Zealand A team, playing in a one-day
tournament in India, has also been recalled.
New Zealand Cricket chief executive, Martin Snedden, said the NZC had received advice from various foreign affairs departments around the world, and from their own security consultants, who said all travel to Pakistan should be cancelled for the next seven days.
"The safety of the players is our only consideration and, given the advice we have received from the Department of Foreign Affairs, it is obvious that we should bring the Black Caps home," he said.
"We have advised the Pakistan Cricket Board of our decision and, with the PCB, we will re-visit the possibility of some cricket during October, should we be satisfied that the situation has stabilised."
The team will leave Singapore at 8.00 pm today (NZ Time) and will arrive back in Christchurch tomorrow morning.
The New Zealand 'A' team will fly out of Hyderabad for Mumbai and Singapore later today. The team will arrive in New Zealand on Saturday morning.
"We are perhaps being over-cautious in respect of the 'A' team and acknowledge that India has not been implicated as an 'at risk' nation however we don't want to risk the possibility of the team being caught up in anything that might eventuate," Snedden said.
Snedden said NZC had contacted the families of players in both teams to advise them of the decision before it was made public.
"As one would expect the families were very relieved and welcomed the decision. This has been a difficult time for the families and New Zealand Cricket has worked hard to ensure they have been kept fully informed of developments and to reassure them that the continuing safety of the two teams is paramount in all decision-making," he said.
