Zimbabwe will be the first Full Member nation to tour Pakistan since March 2009, when terrorists attacked the Sri Lankan team in Lahore, rendering the country untenable as an international cricket venue because of security concerns. Zimbabwe Cricket confirmed the tour in Harare on Thursday, saying all the games would be played in Lahore.
The PCB announced on Twitter that Zimbabwe would arrive in Lahore on May 19, and play two Twenty20 internationals and three ODIs between May 22 and 31. The T20s will be played on May 22 and 24, and the ODIs on May 26, 29 and 31.
Dav Whatmore will coach Zimbabwe for four more years, Zimbabwe Cricket has announced.
“We can also confirm that @dfwhatmore has signed a new four year contract with @ZimCricketv, ” ZC chairman Wilson Manase was quoted as saying by the board’s Twitter account.
Whatmore had been announced as Zimbabwe coach in December last year, taking over the role from Stephen Mangongo.
“I can confirm that @ZimCricketv will tour @TheRealPCB in May,” Zimbabwe Cricket chairman Wilson Manase was quoted as saying by the board’s Twitter account. “We have taken cognisance of all the factors for us to arrive at this decision, so let’s not be alarmist about the situation in Pakistan.”
Alistair Campbell, Zimbabwe Cricket’s managing director, said Pakistan would also tour Zimbabwe in August. “We are touring Pakistan as a measure of establishing bilateral relations between us and them,” he was quoted as saying on ZC’s twitter account. “They will also come to Zimbabwe in August.” Zimbabwe Cricket had already announced tours by India and New Zealand in July and August.
On March 3, 2009, gunmen had ambushed the vehicles transporting the Sri Lankan players and match officials to the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore for the third day of the Test. Several players suffered injuries, while security personnel and civilians were killed, and as a result the match was abandoned and the tour called off. Ever since, Pakistan have had to play their home matches at offshore venues, primarily the UAE, as the ICC and other Full Members considered the country too much of a security risk.
