Zimbabwe to tour Pakistan during election time

Posted by brmtaylor.com admin on November 28, 2007

A Pakistan Cricket Board official confirmed to Reuters that Zimbabwe will tour Pakistan in 2008.

The Pakistan general elections are being held on January 8th, and the Pakistan Cricket Board official said the southern African team play their ODI series after this date.

Unsurprisingly, Zimbabwe Cricket requested several First Class matches in addition to the One Day Internationals. According to the unnamed official, the Pakistan Cricket Board obliged, and the Zimbabwe team will play a four day match and a three day match ahead of the one day matches. Zimbabwe Cricket have expressed interest in arriving in Karachi on January 6th and playing some First Class matches in the city. This will see the team in Karachi throughout the election.

It is unclear who the First Class matches will involve. It is unlikely it will the Pakistan first XI vs Zimbabwe. It is more likely to be a Pakistan A team or a Pakistan Cricket Board Presidents XI.

The one day matches are to be played in Karachi, Hyderabad, Multan, Faisalabad and Sheikhupura. The series against Zimbabwe will be the first such series that Pakistan will move ODI's to less used venues, such as Sheikhupura. The official said that this was part of a plan to allow every local association to host an international team. This is an effort that will most likely continue into following series, such as Australia's tour of Pakistan in 2008.

Zimbabwe are not scheduled to play any Twenty20 matches on their tour of Pakistan, although this may change as we approach the series.