‘Pakistan will tour Zimbabwe soon’

ZC Chairman Wilson Manase claims limited-overs series will take place.

KARACHI: A Pakistan-Zimbabwe series may well be back on the cards after Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) Chairman Wilson Manase claimed that Pakistan’s tour will go ahead next month, albeit with a revised schedule.

Pakistan were earlier expected to play an ODI triangular series with Zimbabwe and West Indies. However, once the series against Sri Lanka was in the bag, claiming the final Champions Trophy qualification spot for now, the board decided to change its plan to play the triangular series and was not even keen on playing ODIs against Zimbabwe.

With 90 points to their name in ICC ODI Teams’ Rankings, Pakistan’s position in the Champions Trophy is confirmed unless West Indies arrange a series against one of the big boys and win.

Manase claimed Pakistan will come for the tour that was agreed to after Zimbabwe travelled to Pakistan in May, despite their own government advising against it, to become the first Test nation to play in the country for six years.

However, Manase’s comments have implied that Pakistan may well tour Zimbabwe towards the end of September, instead of August, for T20Is and ODIs.

Zimbabwe first host New Zealand for three ODIs and a one-off T20 from Sunday.

PCB also confirms tour

A Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) official has confirmed that the series will take place as expected, and will include two T20Is and three ODIs. The 20-over games will take place at the end of September and will be followed by the ODI games. While the dates of the 50-over games are yet to be announced, they will be after the cut-off period for Champions Trophy qualification.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 30^th,  2015.

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