Harare: Zimbabwe cricket authorities on Thursday abandoned a planned tour to Pakistan citing poor security — before retracting their decision within 20 minutes and saying discussions were still ongoing.
Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) released an official statement saying the tour would not go ahead following recent militant violence that has revived fears after a deadly attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in 2009.
But ZC spokesman Lovemore Banda issued a rapid apology, saying the abandonment was not confirmed.
“The executive and the board are in a meeting right now and we are waiting for their decision,” Banda told AFP by telephone, without explaining the earlier statement.
The tour would be the first by a Test-playing nation since militants attacked the Sri Lankan bus in Lahore, killing six Pakistani policemen and two civilians and injuring six Sri Lankan players.
Pakistan has been desperate to regain its status as an international cricket venue, but security concerns rose further this week as gunmen attacked a passenger bus and killed at least 43 people in the southern city of Karachi.
Zimbabwe are due to arrive on May 19 and play two Twenty20 internationals on May 22 and 24 and three One Day Internationals on May 26, 29 and 31.
All five matches would be played in the eastern city of Lahore after Zimbabwe refused to play in Karachi.
Zimbabwe Cricket said in its first statement: “The decision not to tour at this time has been taken after considering the advice from the country’s supreme sports regulatory authority, the Sports and Recreational Commission (SRC).”
It quoted Charles Nhemachena, the SRC director general, as saying: “We have consulted on the security situation in Pakistan ... and have been advised it would not be safe for the team to travel to Pakistan.”
An advance party visited Pakistan last week and expressed confidence the tour would go ahead.
Zimbabwe this week announced a 16-man squad, 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.”
No major team has recently been willing to risk their safety to visit Pakistan, beginning an unwanted odyssey for the 1992 world champions, who have played most of their ‘home’ matches since 2009 in the UAE.
Bangladesh have backed out twice after initially agreeing to tour, although Pakistan have managed to host minor teams Afghanistan and Kenya.
Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Shaharyar Khan said a final decision was expected on Friday.
“I have talked to ZC chairman [Wilson Manase] on the phone and he informed me that a final decision will be taken on Friday,” Khan told AFP.
“We are still hopeful they will come, they are keen to come and I am hopeful that they [ZC] will convince their authorities as we have promised to put in place 100 per cent security for them.”
Khan said it would be a huge setback for Pakistan if Zimbabwe do not tour.
“It will surely be a big setback for us as there is huge interest among the fans because the tickets put on sale are in big demand.”
