New Zealand cricket coach Mike Hesson says the entire cricket community is reeling from the news of Phillip Hughes' death.
The Black Caps and Pakistan players decided not to play the second day of the third and final Test in Sharjah.
Out of respect for Hughes, the Pakistan Cricket Board and New Zealand Cricket agreed to suspend play and will now finish the Test on Monday instead of Sunday.
Australian cricketer Phil Hughes is remembered at the Basin Reserve in Wellington. Photo: NZ Cricket
Pakistan, who lead the three-Test series 1-nil, were to resume on 281 for three with opening batsman Mohammad Hafeez unbeaten on 178 and captain Misbah-ul-Haq on 38.
The 25-year-old Hughes was struck on the head by a bouncer during a domestic match on Tuesday and passed away after two days in hospital.
In a statement Hesson says the day wasn't about cricket, it was about Phil.
He says like the rest of the cricketing family, the Black Caps players and management are devastated to hear about Phil's tragic passing.
Hesson says it's an unthinkable loss and it's an incredibly sombre dressing room.
He says to those who were close to Hughes extend their deepest sympathies and their thoughts are with Hughes during this extremely difficult time.
Phil Hughes' career:
Made his first-class debut for New South Wales in 2007 at age 18.
.. Scored a century in NSW's 2007-08 Sheffield Shield final win over Victoria at 19
.. Made his Test debut against South Africa in February 2009, scoring back-to-back centuries in his second match
.. Dropped for the 2009 Ashes series but came back into the side for two Tests against Pakistan and New Zealand in early 2010
.. Called into the side for the 2010-11 Ashes in Australia but made just 97 runs in three Tests
.. Retained his spot in the Australian touring party for Sri Lanka and South Africa in 2011, but he was dropped during the home series against New Zealand during the Australian 2011-12 summer
.. Had a strong start to the Sheffield Shield season and was rewarded with a spot in the Test squad for Sri Lanka's tour of Australia in 2012-13
.. After becoming the first Australian batsman to score a century on his ODI debut, he retained his spot for the tours of India and England in 2013
.. Made his last Australian appearance in the baggy green in the 2013 second Ashes Test, in which he made one in both innings
.. Felled by a bouncer playing for South Australia against NSW in a Sheffield Shield match at the SCG on November 25, 2014
.. Taken to hospital where he is placed in an induced coma because of the blow
.. Does not regain consciousness and dies at Sydney's St Vincent's Hospital on November 27, aged 25.
