Sports

Zimbabwe team visits Gaddafi Stadium for practice

PCB COO says this tour will give other international teams the confidence to visit Pakistan

Sports Desk May 18, 2015

Zimbabwe cricket team arrives at the Allama Iqbal International airport, Lahore early on Tuesday. PHOTO: PCB

LAHORE: Zimbabwe cricket team left their hotel to practice in the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore under strict security, Express News reported.

The traffic was suspended on the road which leads from the hotel to the stadium.

Earlier in the morning, the Zimbabwe team became the first full international cricket team to visit Pakistan for a bilateral cricket series in six years after players arrived at the Lahore airport early on Tuesday morning.

Subhan Ahmed, the chief operating officer of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said that this tour will set a precedent and give other (international cricket) teams the confidence to visit Pakistan.

PHOTO: PCB

"We are thankful to Zimbabwe Cricket for taking this leap of faith, and trusting us," Ahmed said, adding that the PCB had been trying for a while to get international teams to visit Pakistan, with Bangladesh coming close in 2012.

The PCB COO said that they will provide Zimbabwe cricketers opportunities which they were not getting right now.

The Zimbabwe players then boarded a special bus which drove them to their hotel.

PHOTO: PCB

There were doubts whether the five-match tour would go ahead after the massacre of 45 Shias in an attack on a bus in Karachi last week.

However, Zimbabwe arrived at the Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore early on Tuesday where they are scheduled to play two Twenty20 and three one-day internationals amid massive security at the Gaddafi Stadium.

Views on the tour are mixed with Sri Lanka-born Zimbabwe coach Dav Whatmore upbeat.

"I appreciate the significance of this tour to Pakistan and I am happy to go," he told Zimbabwe radio.

Looking fwd to returning to Pakistan as opposition coach and reacquainting with friends. Team zim are & will be working hard for a win!
— Dav Whatmore (@dfwhatmore) May 17, 2015

Meanwhile, Pakistan-born batsman Sikandar Raza Bakht took to Twitter to express his enthusiasm for the series.

Boarding the plane to pakistan for what promises to be a great series VS @TheRealPCB
Insha ALLAH all goes well for both teams and countries
— Sikandar Raza (@SRazaB24) May 17, 2015

All-rounder Sean Williams seemed a bit more concerned about the series, while Batsman Brendan Taylor wished his teammates best of luck for the tour.

Boarding plane to Pakistan shorty nervy times!!hopefully all goes well
— Sean Williams (@sean14williams) May 17, 2015

https://twitter.com/BrendanTaylor86/status/600014652777562112

Another batsman, Chamu Justice prayed for peace and safety.

https://twitter.com/chamulaw/status/599973317890744322

Zimbabwe Cricket Union's official account also tweeted pictures of the Pakistani community in Zimbabwe who gave the visitors a sendoff in order to show their solidarity with Pakistani fans.

The Pak community in Zim thronged the airport to give the boys a sendoff in solidarity #cricketthewinner @TheRealPCB pic.twitter.com/Mak3wAcFOn
— Zimbabwe Cricket (@ZimCricketv) May 18, 2015

Zimbabwe have left Harare for a high-stakes tour of Pakistan, national cricket association spokesman Lovemore Banda said Monday.

"The team has left (Harare)," Banda told AFP. "They are going (to Pakistan) via Dubai."

Since the attack on the Sri Lankans, Pakistan have staged 'home' matches in the United Arab Emirates.

(Additional input from AFP)

COMMENTS (29)

mazhar | 9 years ago | Reply thanks Zimbabwe, Allah will take care of you. What happened, happened in past where Pakistani brave policemen gave lives to protect Sri Lankan Players. Zim we all with you.

mazhar | 9 years ago | Reply Guys, please stop fighting and enjoy Pak & Zim series. Thanks Zim

VIEW MORE COMMENTS

FAS | 9 years ago | Reply Guy we should not bother the comments of non serious & so called democratic and peacefull RAM RAM nation!! Enjoy the match with our respected guests. Best of luck.

Amin Bukhari | 9 years ago | Reply We all are thankful to Zimbabwe cricket team for visiting Pakistan.We will always remember the team for their visit.They are brave and kind hearted.They want that other countries team to visit Pakistan.

Brain-eating amoeba | 9 years ago | Reply A big thank you to Zimbabwe!

Iqbal | 9 years ago | Reply Let's hope they don't return to Zimbabwe in body bags. If they do, you may as well say goodbye to cricket in Pakistan and also to Pakistan itself.

disgusted | 9 years ago | Reply @Zaida Parvez: Your name sounds different from your words.

Obaid | 9 years ago | Reply One way to thank the Zim team would be cheer for them if you are at the stadium

Aschraful Makhlooq | 9 years ago | Reply "zimbabwe-cricketers-hope-for-peace-and-safety-as-they-fly-to-pakistan" Yes definitely they can hope because 5000 security personnels have been deployed on their security and all major roads going to Qaddafi stadium are closed for normal traffic and aerial supervision of the hotel in which Zimbabwean players are staying and Qaddafi stadium has been started....

Zubair | 9 years ago | Reply The Government of Pakistan needs to do everything in their power and then some to protect the Zimbabwe team. I took stones of pure titanium to go to my home country considering the current state of affairs there. That being said... which channel is the match on?

Czar of Subcontinent | 9 years ago | Reply Zimbabwe did, which other did not! They have already won the series !! Kudos Zimbabwe!!

shahid | 9 years ago | Reply Hi, Attacking sports team is something that has not happened even in Afghanistan. So it can not be viewed as a taliban ideological target. Indian team on other hand is reluctant to tour Pakistan and if Pak team has a tour, some of their typical politicians start hurling threats. They threaten to destroy pitches and all. This is something no political party in Pakistan does. Talk abt extremism! So who can v c as having more interest in destroying Pak cricket? and social isolation. Sri lanka team attack was never claimed by TTP who r otherwise very quick to accept everything. Who did it, then? Its very obvious.

Zaida Parvez | 9 years ago | Reply May all the Gods in the world join hands and ensure the safety of the Zim team !! Iktalaf-e-raye can be addressed later.

PakSal | 9 years ago | Reply @Rawalpindi kid: I agree with Pindi Kid, either its a full member ICC nation or a minnow, can't be both. From Pakistan's perspective, they seemed to be bigger than all nations put together. Welcome to Pakistan, enjoy your stay.

Imran Ayub | 9 years ago | Reply @Adeel Qadri 100% true @ Rakesh, just shut your mouth. We don't need you to interfere/comment on anything related to Pakistan. BTW who needs RAW when we have our politians. Thank you so much Zimbabwe and Dav Whatmore.

Varun | 9 years ago | Reply @Rawalpindi kid: you are absolutely right. However, have to ask, why does every Zimbabwe player have to pray for his 'safety'. Its as if they've been thrown in a contest with hungry lions :-). All the best to both teams.

Amer | 9 years ago | Reply Zimbabwe Zindabad ! I never thought I would see this moment and I hope they have the best of tour and safe return to their home, inshALLAH.

BeKind | 9 years ago | Reply Can you stop calling them minnows? They are showing the world how to help Pakistan lift their cricket out of the woods. Please show them some respect by editing your article.

Urooj Saifi | 9 years ago | Reply This newspaper should improve its reporting. Insulting the only team who dared to visit us during such nasty times by calling them "minnows" is against all norms of Pakistani hospitality. Shame on you.

observer | 9 years ago | Reply I can see another "RAW and India did it" blame happening very soon. I am sure the TTP is salivating on this new fresh target. Only hope no one gets killed in this predictable attack.

Hamood | 9 years ago | Reply @Rakesh, it was not our strategic assets, they were yours.

Farooq | 9 years ago | Reply Thanks team Zimbabwe. We welcome you with love, respect and a big thanks.

Waqas | 9 years ago | Reply Rakesh there was a time when you blamed ISI even for your FART.... Time changes... It will change again.

Rawalpindi kid | 9 years ago | Reply My request to the writers of ET, please show some manners. Zimbabwe team is taking a big risk, and showing courage and favor to the Pakistani public by ignoring their sports authorities and visiting Pakistan. The least you can do is not insult them by using such derogatory terms as "minnows". There was no sense in using that term in this article. Thank you Zimbabwe, you stand tall today!

Sana | 9 years ago | Reply @Rakesh: This is indian theory to put all the blame on opposition without any knowledge and facts, without investigation and this senseless thing owned by indian government only.

Adeel Qadri | 9 years ago | Reply @Rakesh, i just want to ask one question, who is benefiting from Pakistan's isolation internationally? Knife in armpits and RAM RAM from mouth... ask your RAW to stop, we know you very well.

Arshad | 9 years ago | Reply @Rakesh: Don't try to be so innocent. RAW/ India has not reconciled to the creation of Pakistan from day one and doesn't leave any time to harm Pakistan.

PapaTango | 9 years ago | Reply They maybe minnows but by visiting Pakistan and showing some courage and consideration, they are big time. Let us stop calling them minnows and accord them the gratitude they deserve, shall we?

Rakesh | 9 years ago | Reply One request to Pakistani fans !! If your stretegic asset do anything bad to these players(God forbid !! ) please do not jump with readymade "RAW" theories !!! Please !!!!!!!!!

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