To play in Pakistan, Zimbabwe put forth two demands

The Zimbabwe Cricket Union (ZCU) has put forward two conditions to its Pakistani counterpart to undertake the tour to Pakistan next month to play a limited over series.

A source in the Pakistan Cricket Board told PTI that the ZCU has put forth two conditions. First, a return tour to Zimbabwe in August and second, it should be given 50 per cent of the revenues earned from the series in Pakistan.

“These two conditions, plus the arrival of a security delegation from Zimbabwe are the reasons for the tour not being finalised as yet,” the source disclosed.

The source said that the ZCU chief executive, in recent meetings with the PCB officials in Dubai on the sidelines of the ICC meetings, had made it clear that while the Zimbabwe Board was keen to send its team to Pakistan in May, it needed financial incentives to revive its cricket.

“The ZCU has made it clear it needs financial support and should be given 50 per cent share of the revenues and that Pakistan confirm that it will tour Zimbabwe for same number of matches in August this year,” he said.

The source said the tour was also subject to clearance from the ZCU security delegation, which will be touring the country son.

“The PCB wants the Zimbabwe team to play two ODIs and a T20 International in Lahore at the Gaddafi stadium and one ODI and one T20 at the national stadium in Karachi,” the source said.

He said the PCB had dropped the idea of holding matches at a private ground in Karachi, known as Southend club in Defence society.

“The PCB is reviewing the arrangements and facilities at Southend club for future matches but if Zimbabwe agrees, the matches against them will be held in Karachi at the NSK. To hold matches at the Southend, first we need to get approval from the ICC to award it international status,” the source said.

He said that the ZCU so far was not keen on playing in Karachi and wanted the PCB to hold all five matches in Lahore.

“They are comfortable with the idea of playing matches at the PCB headquarters and staying at the national cricket academy adjacent to the Gaddafi stadium for security reasons,” the source said.

If Zimbabwe confirms the tour, it would be the first Test playing nation to tour Pakistan since 2009.

The source said the PCB is already planning to hold its national T20 super eights tournament from around May 12 as it is anticipating the Zimbabwe tour to start not before May 20.

He said the PCB had so far not approached the ICC to appoint match officials for the series because the security plan is yet to be sent to them for approval.

Source:: Indian Express