Islamabad, Sept. 17 -- Pakistan speedstar Shaoib Akhtar slammed New Zealand over its decision to discontinue its ongoing tour to the South Asian nation and said it 'killed' the cricket of the country.

"NZ just killed Pakistan cricket," Akhtar tweeted.

New Zealand team on Friday cited security concerns as it backed out of its tour of Pakistan.

The team abandoned the tour just hours before the first match was to start between the two sides in Rawalpindi.

New Zealand Cricket said in a statement: "The BLACKCAPS are abandoning their tour of Pakistan following a New Zealand government security alert. Arrangements are now being made for the team's departure."

"New Zealand Cricket informed us they had been alerted to some security alert and ...