LAHORE: Pakistan Cricket Board and Zimbabwe Cricket have agreed in principle for the latter’s tour to Pakistan but final clearance in this regard will be given by a Zimbabwean security delegation, visiting Lahore on May 5.

A PCB official wishing not to be named told Dawn that there is no visible hurdle in the tour as both boards had agreed but the final decision in this regard can only be made public when the Zimbabwe security team clears it.

“A number of security agencies at the provincial and federal levels are to brief the Zimbabwe’s delegation which is expected on May 5,” the official said.

Dispelling the impression given in the media that Zimbabwe cricketers are reluctant to tour Pakistan on security fears, the official said no such thing was happening but in fact some international cricket bodies are not happy over the development and so negative news are being spread.

“In fact, the tour was scheduled on Zimbabwe’s request as they wanted to give their players a chance to play international cricket and are more interested in the tour,” the official added.

“The tour is important for Pakistan cricket as it could allay the security issues other teams have.”

Zimbabwe’s tour will be the first by a Test side to the country since the attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in 2009.

Reuters adds: Zimbabwe Cricket communication manager Lovemore Banda said told Reuters from Harare on Monday, “We are still talking but hope that it can be finalised anytime from now. We need to agree matters with Pakistan and also have to get our own players to agree as well.”

Zimbabwean media reported that players were seeking as much as $10,000 per man to tour Pakistan.

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2015

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