Pakistan’s incoming cricket tour to Zimbabwe is back on schedule after the respective boards agreed on a T-20 and one-day international (ODI) series in September.
BY KEVIN MAPASURE
The two will first square up for a T-20 series with the three ODIs scheduled after September 30, the deadline day for the ICC Champions Trophy qualification.
The two boards deliberately avoided August so as not to jeopardise Pakistan’s position in the top eight of the ICC ODI rankings, a position that qualifies them to the Champions Trophy.
Originally, Zimbabwe had planned to host both Pakistan and West Indies in a triangular series from August 17.
But once Pakistan secured number eight spot, they pulled out of that series, preferring to visit Zimbabwe at a later date. This means that if things stay as they are, West Indies will miss out on the Champions Trophy and Pakistan go through.
A Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) spokesperson yesterday confirmed to the Pakistani media that they had agreed to fulfil their obligations in Zimbabwe.
“We agreed new dates and will go to Zimbabwe in the last week of September to play two T-20s and three ODIs,” the spokesperson said. Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) board chairman Wilson Manase also confirmed the tour in a media release.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
“We have dealt with the tour outline with my PCB counterpart Shahryar Khan. The managements of our respective boards will now continue to fine-tune the tour schedule,” Manase said.
The two nations agreed on a bilateral tour after Zimbabwe agreed to tour Pakistan, which has not hosted any Test-playing nation since the gun attack on the Sri Lanka national team in 2009.
Zimbabwe toured and played three ODIs and two T-20s against Pakistan in Lahore last May and the latter had promised to reciprocate.
Zimbabwe are scheduled to host Ireland and Afghanistan this year in addition to the Black Caps tour that kicks off on Sunday with India having also recently toured.
They will also visit Dubai to play Afghanistan at the end of the year. ZC is also discussing with the West Indies board.
Meanwhile, the New Zealand cricket team arrived in the country for a 12-day visit that involves three ODIs and a single T20 encounter against hosts Zimbabwe at Harare Sports Club.
The Black Caps, who touched down at Harare International Airport at 12:20pm yesterday, will play the first ODI encounter on Sunday, with the second pencilled for Tuesday and the final match of the series set for the following Friday.
A one-off T20 encounter will complete the New Zealanders’ tour as they proceed for another engagement with neighbours South Africa. Led by team manager Mike Sandle, coach Mike Hesson and stand-in captain Kane Williamson, the Black Caps were refused to entertain the media and were immediately whisked away by a bus to their hotel.
Conspicuous by their absence in the New Zealand squad was captain Brendan McCullum, pace bowlers Tim Southee and Trent Boult as well as all-rounders Corey Anderson and Mitchell Santner who failed to make the trip to Africa for various reasons.
But established players in the form of top-order batters Ross Taylor and Martin Guptill, all-rounders Grant Elliot and Nathan McCullum are part of the touring team.
Zimbabwe’s provisional squad continued with its preparations for New Zealand’s visit at Harare Sports Club and ZC is set to announce the final 15 squad for the ODI series today.
