Zimbabwe to tour Pakistan for ODI series

[SpitfiresKent]

Don't get me wrong i'd love to see cricket being played in Pakistan again but i'm just not convinced. Just recently there was an attack on some kids school by the taliban.

The only way i'd be happy for this tour to go ahead is if all games were played at Lahore and behind closed doors (small steps at a time).

I'd want similar if not more security to what Kenya had:

The Kenyan team bus, flanked by police, was driven along the route where the attack took place. The visitors will be staying at the National Cricket Academy, adjacent to the Gaddafi Stadium, where all the matches will be played. The security measures put in place include the area being cordoned off by 14 giant gates.

The stadium and the NCA are situated inside the Nishtar Park Sports Complex, which is a public space with several restaurants and shops. During Kenya's stay, however, all the restaurants and shops will be shut for two weeks. Journalists intending to cover the series have had to get their accreditation cleared by the superintendent of police.

[gargamel]

to be honest Zimbabwe is not a high profile target as would be a Australia or England . I think they would benefit from the outing and get the much needed game time. The boys start camp today or Tuesday and i really hope they tour Pakistan at the moment any tour will do.

[grant]

Don't get me wrong i'd love to see cricket being played in Pakistan again but i'm just not convinced. Just recently there was an attack on some kids school by the taliban.

The only way i'd be happy for this tour to go ahead is if all games were played at Lahore and behind closed doors (small steps at a time).

I'd want similar if not more security to what Kenya had:

The Kenyan team bus, flanked by police, was driven along the route where the attack took place. The visitors will be staying at the National Cricket Academy, adjacent to the Gaddafi Stadium, where all the matches will be played. The security measures put in place include the area being cordoned off by 14 giant gates.

The stadium and the NCA are situated inside the Nishtar Park Sports Complex, which is a public space with several restaurants and shops. During Kenya's stay, however, all the restaurants and shops will be shut for two weeks. Journalists intending to cover the series have had to get their accreditation cleared by the superintendent of police.

True. Anything less than that and you never know......
The Taliban attack on the school was horrendous....

I'm not convinced either, but as gargamel said....

to be honest Zimbabwe is not a high profile target as would be a Australia or England . I think they would benefit from the outing and get the much needed game time. The boys start camp today or Tuesday and i really hope they tour Pakistan at the moment any tour will do.

I agree, we do need game time.....
And it's not like we're Aus, Eng, Ind, NZ, SL, etc..........

[jaybro]

There is no chance I would tour or visit Pakistan .....

[CrimsonAvenger]

If a bunch of innocent school children can be bombed, it does not matter whether someone is high profile or not. There is no sense in going there.

[eugene]

Sri Lanka were hardly profile either. They are not leading the war against the Taliban like Australia or England and were still attacked. Plus you can get caught up in things even when you are not the target. NZ have come close to terrorist attacks in both Pakistan and Sri Lanka over the years.

[Googly]

Some of the comments from the Pakistani cricketing public (maybe some of them are Bangladeshi? hard to always distinguish) are pretty scary. I wouldn't be happy going there. Let's see if Takemore sits this one out or will brave death to sample the wares on offer in Lahore.

[vikas]

The Zimbabwe cricket team is set to tour Pakistan next month to play five one-day internationals in the first tour by a Test playing nation to this country since 2009.
A reliable PCB source said the tour was on and matches would be split between Lahore and Karachi.
"In Lahore the matches will be played at the Gaddafi stadium but in Karachi for security reasons the PCB is considering the Southend private club as a possible venue," the source said.
The source said the PCB was keen to host two matches at the Southend club since it was in a secure location and environment and inhouse facilities for five star lodging swimming pool, gymnasium and restaurants are also there.
"The feeling is that hosting matches at the National stadium could prove to be a security problem so Southend is being considered as a option," he said.
But he made it clear the PCB had still not finalized the venue in Karachi.
The Southend club was formerly known as the Defence cricket stadium and in 1993 Zimbabwe played a Test against Pakistan at this venue.
The final touches to the itinerary will be given this week on the sidelines of the ICC meetings with both boards keen to convince the ICC to send their match officials for the series.
No Test team has toured Pakistan since March, 2009 when militants attacked the Sri Lankan team in Lahore.

[SpitfiresKent]

Let's see if Takemore sits this one out or will brave death to sample the wares on offer in Lahore.

Ahh yes good point. He was there in Bangladesh and at the World Cup so I wonder if he'll make the trip to Pakistan.

[SpitfiresKent]

"The feeling is that hosting matches at the National stadium could prove to be a security problem..."

Yes and this is exactly why the matches should be played behind closed doors.

I can't wait to hear the thoughts of some of the players on this potential tour.