FOLLOWING weeks of uncertainty, Zimbabwe Cricket yesterday finally confirmed that they will be touring Pakistan this month for two weeks.During their visit to Pakistan, Zimbabwe will be engaged in two T20s and three One Day Internationals with all the matches set for Gaddafi Stadium, in Lahore.
ZC chairman Wilson Manase, who was flanked by ZC chief executive Wilson Mukondiwa and managing director Alistar Campbell, officially told journalists that they were sending an advance team to look at the security concerns but was confident that Pakistan would be a safe destination for the team to visit.
“From the reports we have, we have seen how drastic things have changed. They have put new infrastructure at the stadiums, with all facilities around them and they have also erected a high security fence at the venue where the matches will be played.
ZC chairman Wilson Manase, who was flanked by ZC chief executive Wilson Mukondiwa and managing director Alistar Campbell, officially told journalists that they were sending an advance team to look at the security concerns but was confident that Pakistan would be a safe destination for the team to visit.
“From the reports we have, we have seen how drastic things have changed. They have put new infrastructure at the stadiums, with all facilities around them and they have also erected a high security fence at the venue where the matches will be played.
“They have also assured us that they will look after our players, coaches and technical staff very well,” said Manase.
Next week, said Manase, a high level team from Zimbabwe will visit Pakistan to familiarise themselves with the events on the ground.
“We are going to have a high level delegation from Zimbabwe going to Pakistan just to see how the terrain is and also to make sure that when our players go there, they will be looked after well.
“I don’t, in any way, doubt that Cricket Pakistan would look after us well. I’m in constant touch with their board president (Shahryar ) Khan, whom I have great respect for as a former ambassador to the United Nations
“You will notice that Zimbabwe’s tour to Pakistan was not announced by the cricket board but the president of Pakistan (Mamnoon Hussain) when he met the president of Sri Lanka.
“And I can confirm that our players are practicing and have agreed to travel to Pakistan for the games that are in place and our coach is well briefed and of course we have a duty to ensure that the parents of the players and the nation at large are advised,” said Manase.
Manase said ZC have written to the government, through the Sports and Recreation Commission, advising them on the impending tour to Pakistan.
Zimbabwe are set to arrive in Pakistan on May 19 and then play the first T20 match on May 22.
By touring Pakistan, Zimbabwe will become the first full International Cricket Council member to visit since 2009.
On March 3, 2009, gunmen had ambushed the vehicles transporting the Sri Lankan players and match officials to the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore for the third day of the Test and Pakistan had been playing their home matches mainly in the United Arab Emirates.
“This is part of Zimbabwe Cricket, as part of its future touring programme with other nations, and we have a duty to also tour other nations that also have a duty to tour us. In the past we have had constrains, some of them political and some of them hinged on sanctions with other nations that felt that, they could not, through their government, have relations with us on the sporting field.”
Zimbabwe Tour to Pakistan
Friday, May 22 : T20 Pakistan v Zim @Gaddafi Stadium
Sunday, May 24 : 2nd T20 Pakistan v Zim
Tuesday , May 26: !st ODI: Pakistan v Zim
Friday, May 29 : 2nd ODI: Pakistan v Zim
Sunday: May 31; 3rd ODI: Pakistan v Zim.
Next week, said Manase, a high level team from Zimbabwe will visit Pakistan to familiarise themselves with the events on the ground.
“We are going to have a high level delegation from Zimbabwe going to Pakistan just to see how the terrain is and also to make sure that when our players go there, they will be looked after well.
“I don’t, in any way, doubt that Cricket Pakistan would look after us well. I’m in constant touch with their board president (Shahryar ) Khan, whom I have great respect for as a former ambassador to the United Nations
“You will notice that Zimbabwe’s tour to Pakistan was not announced by the cricket board but the president of Pakistan (Mamnoon Hussain) when he met the president of Sri Lanka.
“And I can confirm that our players are practicing and have agreed to travel to Pakistan for the games that are in place and our coach is well briefed and of course we have a duty to ensure that the parents of the players and the nation at large are advised,” said Manase.
Manase said ZC have written to the government, through the Sports and Recreation Commission, advising them on the impending tour to Pakistan.
Zimbabwe are set to arrive in Pakistan on May 19 and then play the first T20 match on May 22.
By touring Pakistan, Zimbabwe will become the first full International Cricket Council member to visit since 2009.
On March 3, 2009, gunmen had ambushed the vehicles transporting the Sri Lankan players and match officials to the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore for the third day of the Test and Pakistan had been playing their home matches mainly in the United Arab Emirates.
“This is part of Zimbabwe Cricket, as part of its future touring programme with other nations, and we have a duty to also tour other nations that also have a duty to tour us. In the past we have had constrains, some of them political and some of them hinged on sanctions with other nations that felt that, they could not, through their government, have relations with us on the sporting field.”
Zimbabwe Tour to Pakistan
Friday, May 22 : T20 Pakistan v Zim @Gaddafi Stadium
Sunday, May 24 : 2nd T20 Pakistan v Zim
Tuesday , May 26: !st ODI: Pakistan v Zim
Friday, May 29 : 2nd ODI: Pakistan v Zim
Sunday: May 31; 3rd ODI: Pakistan v Zim.
By: Courtesy of Sportszone
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