Pakistan’s tour of Zimbabwe officially called off

Pakistan team is currently playing in Sri Lanka (Source: Reuters)

Pakistan’s tour of Zimbabwe next month and a planned tri-series ODI tournament there have been called off after mutual understanding between the two countries. A Pakistan Cricket Board official confirmed to PTI that the tour was officially off.

“It is true we were having second thoughts about playing a tri-series with West Indies but the Zimbabwe Board was also facing problems securing sponsors for the tour. So basically the tour is off with mutual understanding,” the official said.

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He said the PCB had told Zimbabwe that it would definitely undertake a full tour in the near future whenever both countries were able to secure a window for the bilateral series.

The calling off of the tour to Zimbabwe has come about after a new look Pakistan side out classed Sri Lanka to gain a unassailable 3-1 lead in the ongoing five match ODI series. The series win has also boosted Pakistan’s rankings in the ICC ODI standings to eighth position.

The PCB official said that previous reports about the PCB confirming the tri-series in Zimbabwe were not correct.
“No agreement was made for either the tri-series or bilateral ODI series,” the official said.

He said Pakistan had offered to play a T20 tri-series with West Indies in Zimbabwe but the hosts had declined the
idea saying it was not viable for them.

“But we remain committed to touring Zimbabwe in near future as we enjoy very good relations with Zimbabwe cricket board particularly after the way they supported us by sending their team to Pakistan in May,” he said.

Zimbabwe became the first Test side to play in Pakistan in May six years after militants attacked the Sri Lankan team in Lahore.