Pakistan series will go ahead: Zimbabwe Cricket chairman

Published July 29, 2015
Zimbabwe's series against Pakistan will go ahead with a revised schedule. — AFP
Zimbabwe's series against Pakistan will go ahead with a revised schedule. — AFP

HARARE: Zimbabwe Cricket chairman Wilson Manase says Pakistan's incoming tour will go ahead next month with a revised schedule.

Pakistan was set for a month-long visit from Aug. 17, then reportedly decided to delay the limited-overs series so as not to jeopardise its qualification for the 2017 Champions Trophy, which will be based on team rankings on Septemer 30. For now, Pakistan has the eighth and final qualifying spot.

But Manase said Pakistan will still come next month for a tour that was agreed to after Zimbabwe traveled to Pakistan in May, ignoring its own government's safety advice to become the first test nation to play in the country for six years.

Zimbabwe first hosts New Zealand for three one-day internationals and a one-off Twenty20 from Sunday.

A source in the Pakistan Cricket Board told Dawn that the new schedule for the proposed series was being reviewed by both boards but added that tour would like take place at the end of September.

“Pakistan will play two Twenty20 internationals in Zimbabwe in September before playing three one-day internationals in October,” the official added.

Pakistan moved into eighth position in the ICC ODI Team Rankings after its 3-2 series victory in Sri Lanka in the five-match series which concluded in Hambantota on last week.

Azhar Ali’s men advanced to 90 points, two ahead of the West Indies, and now has seventh-placed Bangladesh firmly in its sights. The win has also brightened Pakistan's chances of qualifying for the 2017 Champions Trophy, provided West Indies don't play a series before September 30.

But West Indies Cricket Board president Whycliffe “Dave” Cameron said Champions Trophy qualification was a bridge too far at the moment for the Caribbean side.

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