SpitfiresKent wrote:
This didn't happen in Lahore though and the article even says that it's not 100% that the helicopter was shot down.
Don't get me wrong, i'm still not fully at ease about this tour either but seeing Alistair Campbell and co in Pakistan this week has given me some sort of reassurance.
Lahore (being in Punjab) is probably one of the safest places in Pakistan, but I'm not at ease about this tour either...........
The helicopter was shot down in Gilgit-Baltistan (disputed territory and definitely one of the most dangerous places in Pakistan)........
jaybro wrote:Niel Manthorpe tweeted that it's a 95% chance the tour will be cancelled .......
I think this would be best as much as I love watching the boys play I hope it's cancelled ......
Lets hope they use their heads and instead of cancel the tour altogether, just move the matches to UAE.
Won't happen. PCB don't give a toss about playing Zimbabwe. All they care about is hosting an international match on home soil as some sort of demonstration to the major teams that it's "safe".
By AFP Published: May 14, 2015
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The tourists are expected to play three One-Day Internationals (ODI) and two Twenty20 games at Gaddafi Stadium, the headquarters of Pakistan cricket. PHOTO: AFP
The tourists are expected to play three One-Day Internationals (ODI) and two Twenty20 games at Gaddafi Stadium, the headquarters of Pakistan cricket. PHOTO: AFP
HARARE: Zimbabwe cricket authorities said Thursday they were examining a report on the safety of playing in Pakistan, ahead of what is scheduled to be first tour by a Test-playing nation since a deadly attack on the Sri Lankan team bus.
Zimbabwe are due to arrive in Pakistan on May 19 to play three one-day and two T20 matches.
Security concerns rose further on Wednesday when gunmen attacked a passenger bus and killed at least 43 people in the southern city of Karachi.
No major international teams have toured Pakistan since militants attacked the Sri Lankan bus in Lahore in March 2009, killing six Pakistani policemen and two civilians.
Read: Zimbabwe announce squad for Pakistan tour
Six members of the Sri Lanka squad were also injured.
“Zimbabwe Cricket is currently considering a report by its advance team that went to Pakistan last week and returned on Friday,” Lovemore Banda, Zimbabwe Cricket spokesman, told AFP.
Banda would not comment on the contents of the report.
During the advance visit, Zimbabwe Cricket managing director Alistair Campbell expressed confidence that the tour would go ahead.
Zimbabwe announced its 16-man squad this week, but a private daily paper on Thursday said the team should not be put in danger.
“One thing is very clear; Pakistan is not a safe destination to travel to,” the Daily News said. “Pakistan is on fire at the moment.”
The thing is how much does this bus attack really change. These things are always happening in Pakistan yet it was deemed safe to tour a couple of days ago. Not sure why they would suddenly have a reaction to one event in Karachi.
Neil Johnson, Alistair Campbell, Murray Goodwin, Andy Flower (w), Grant Flower, Dave Houghton, Guy Whittall, Heath Streak (c), Andy Blignaut, Ray Price, Eddo Brandes
