New Zealand have abandoned their cricket tour of Pakistan because the team were wary of being attacked outside Rawalpindi Stadium, according to the Pakistan government.

New Zealand Cricket declined to reveal the nature of the security alert from its own government that prompted the sudden decision to cancel the tour moments before the scheduled start of the one-day international series in Rawalpindi on Friday. Both teams had stayed at their hotel.

But according to Pakistan Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told Pakistan counterpart Imran Khan - himself a once great player - that the cricketers could be attacked outside the stadium.

Khan, who is on a government visit of Tajikistan, informed Ardern "we have one of the best intelligence systems in the world and that no security threat of any kind exists for the visiting team."

Ahmed said he had no information about a security threat against the New Zealanders, and backed Khan at a news conference.

"He told her that the law and order situation is the best in our country and we give a guarantee that there is no security problem here, there is no security threat," Ahmed said.

"But the prime minister of New Zealand said that the issue is not the threat but we have such information that when the team goes out it can come under some attack, so they have unilaterally cancelled their tour."

The security concern has the Pakistan hosts mystified.

The Pakistan Cricket Board said together with the Pakistan government they "made foolproof security arrangements for all visiting teams. We have assured the New Zealand Cricket of the same."

PCB chairman Ramiz Raja hinted they will protest to the International Cricket Council against NZC's unilateral decision.

"Crazy day it has been! Feel so sorry for the fans and our players," Raja tweeted. "Walking out of the tour by taking a unilateral approach on a security threat is very frustrating. Especially when it's not shared!! Which world is NZ living in??NZ will hear us at ICC."

New Zealand Cricket said in a statement: "Following an escalation in the New Zealand Government threat levels for Pakistan, and advice from NZC security advisors on the ground, it has been decided the Black Caps will not continue with the tour," New Zealand Cricket said in a statement.

"Arrangements are now being made for the team's departure."

NZC chief executive David White said it was not possible to continue the tour given the advice he was receiving.

"I understand this will be a blow for the PCB, who have been wonderful hosts, but player safety is paramount and we believe this is the only responsible option," he said.

In May 2002, New Zealand abandoned their Test series in Pakistan after a suicide bomb attack outside their Karachi hotel.

Pakistan was a no go zone for international cricket teams for a decade after terrorists attacked the Sri Lanka team bus in Lahore in 2009.

The ambush killed seven people and injured several Sri Lankan cricketers, including Thilan Samaraweera, who is among the New Zealand tour management as the batting coach.

Since international teams resumed touring Pakistan in 2019, this is the first instance of a team having to abandon while in the country.

Pakistan captain Babar Azam expressed his disappointment at the cancellation, while former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar tweeted: "NZ just killed Pakistan cricket."