Pakistan tour on despite scandal: Chingoka

KARACHI: While former International Cricket Council (ICC) chief executive Malcom Speed has called for the suspension of the Pakistan team from international cricket following the spot-fixing scandal, Zimbabwe has remained committed to tour Pakistan in order to play fund-raising internationals as planned.

While planning for the series is still in its infancy, it was expected that Zimbabwe would visit Pakistan towards the end of the year. The visit would see international cricket return to Pakistan for the first time since March 2009 when Sri Lanka were forced to abandon their tour following an attack on their team bus in Lahore.

“What others feel about Pakistan is not our concern but for us the Pakistan tour is on and the recent scandal will not disturb our plans,” Zimbabwe Cricket Chairman Peter Chingoka told The Express Tribune. “Match fixing is a different matter and we stand by our decision and the promise of touring Pakistan to help raise funds for the flood victims.”

Chingoka, while assuring Pakistan of his support, refused to comment on the scandals.

“Since the matter is under investigation, nobody should comment on it and I won’t give any statements on it either,” he said before adding that the Zimbabwe board enjoys good relations with the Pakistan Cricket Board.

“We are trying to arrange the series as soon as possible and hopefully you will see Zimbabwe playing cricket in Pakistan.”

Published in The Express Tribune, August 31^st, 2010.