ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Thursday denied that New Zealand Cricket (NZC) was concerned about its forthcoming tour to the country, saying that the management of the visiting team had not discussed fresh security fears with Pakistani officials.

According to media reports, New Zealand was monitoring Pakistan's security situation in the wake of the recent Taliban takeover in Afghanistan that led to political consternation across its neighborhood.

Some news outlets also suggested in recent days that the first New Zealand tour to Pakistan in 18 years was in jeopardy after players and cricket board officials voiced concerns about the evolving regional security situation.

"The PCB has stuck to the stance that the tour has been scheduled and it has nothing to do with the regional development," Geo News mentioned in one of its reports, adding that Pakistani officials was eagerly making preparations to host the visiting team since its cricket authorities had not conveyed any concerns to them.

Asked about reports that a security consultant for New Zealand Cricket was due to arrive in Pakistan to assess the situation on ground, the PCB told Geo News the visit was planned long ago and had nothing to do with Afghanistan's changing political landscape.

A former New Zealand batsman Glenn Turner recently questioned the NZC decision to agree to the tour, saying Pakistan was not only "COVID-19 ravaged" but was also vulnerable to the situation arising from "Taliban successes in neighboring Afghanistan."

The Kiwis are scheduled to play three One-day Internationals and five T20s in Rawalpindi and Lahore from September 17 to October 3.

They will undertake a tour of Bangladesh before flying to Pakistan to participate in the scheduled contests.