- Punjab home minister says RAW officials tried to sabotage Pak-Zim cricket series, lauds security officials for foiling suicide attempt
Punjab Home Minister Shuja Khanzada alleged on Tuesday that India’s premier spy agency, RAW, had attempted to sabotage the Zimbabwe cricket team’s tour of Pakistan in May.
“RAW officials sent a text to the Zimbabwe team manager when the team landed in Dubai, threatening him that if they came to Pakistan, none of them would go back alive,” said Punjab Home Minister Shuja Khanzada while addressing the Punjab Assembly.
“The team manager then forwarded the message to Pakistani security agencies who upon investigation discovered the number belonged to a RAW official,” the home minister added.
Khanzada further claimed the suicide blast outside Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore during the second one-day match between the two countries was an attempt by RAW to sabotage the event.
“We foiled RAW’s attempt to disrupt Pakistan-Zimbabwe cricket series,” he upheld.
Zimbabwe toured Pakistan on May 19 for three ODIs and two T20s. Despite strict security at the stadium, a suicide bomber exploded himself outside Gaddafi Stadium killing two people during the second ODI of the Pakistan-Zimbabwe.
Security had been ratcheted up for the series with around 4,000 policemen guarding the stadium itself, and a further 2,000 along the route from the Zimbabwe team hotel to the venue.