Mitchell McClenaghan responded to Pakistan veteran cricketer Mohammad Hafeez's dig at New Zealand cricketers after they abandoned the tour due to security concerns. He tweeted that it's wrong to blame the players as they were acting as per the government's orders.

Hafeez on Saturday (September 18) posted that the Pakistan security forces had made the same arrangements for the match like they did for New Zealand to reach the airport. 

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"Thanks to the security of Pakistan forces to make arrangements to @BLACKCAPS to reach at airport Safe & Sound. Wonder same route & same security but no threat today???", he tweeted.

McClenaghan felt the jibe was unnecessary as the players were very interested to play but the government decided to call it off. He added that the players had no choice but to return home.

"Come now bro. This has a bad taste to it... Don't blame the players or the organization... blame our government (sic).

"They have only acted on the advice they have received. I'm absolutely certain these young men - all wanting to prove themselves wanted to play. they had no choice," tweeted the Kiwi which was later deleted.

New Zealand were scheduled to play three ODIs and five T20 Internationals. The New Zealand cricket team arrived in Dubai from Islamabad on Sunday where they will undergo 24-hour self-isolation.