[caption id="attachment_98904" align="alignleft" width="342"]
Zimbabwe’s Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation, Kirsty Coventry (on extreme left) and Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) Chairman Tavengwa Mukuhlani (2nd left) having a chat with the Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board Ehsan Mani (on extreme right)[/caption]
As Sri Lanka is showing extreme caution about hosting their forthcoming Test series with Bangladesh next month, the Government of Zimbabwe has now granted its cricket board, Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC), permission to tour Pakistan for a limited-overs series in October and November, the Pakistan media revealed yesterday (23).
“ZC has received the good news this week through the Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC),” international media said yesterday.
“The Sports and Recreation Commission hereby gives you notice, following your application, that the Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation has approved your request to tour Pakistan to play the referenced matches,” SRC Director General Prince Mupazviriho has written in a letter to ZC.
ZC Chairman elated
ZC Chairman Tavengwa Mukuhlani has applauded the Government for authorising the tour, which will see Zimbabwe playing for the first time since March when many countries across the world banned sporting activities and international travel as part of pandemic lockdown measures aimed at containing the spread of Covid-19.
As of the schedule that was announced yesterday, Zimbabwe will play three ODIs from 30 October to 3 November at Multan before playing three T20Is from 7 to 10 November at Rawalpindi.
Current Covid situation in Pakistan
Pakistan, a country with over 212 million population, has decisively flattened the Covid-19 curve since its peak reported in June. Yet it has reported over 300,000 coronavirus cases with nearly 6,500 fatalities. Yesterday, Pakistan’s official number of infections was reported as 582, with four deaths.
Zimbabwe, which has an estimated population of 14.4 million, has meanwhile reported over 7,500 Covid-19 positive cases with 225 deaths.
Cricket in Pakistan has a special emphasis at present simply for the fact that her current Prime Minister is none other than former World Cup-winning legendary fast-bowler Imran Khan.
‘Bursting with excitement’
“We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to our Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation, the Honourable Kirsty Coventry, the SRC and the entire Government of Zimbabwe for authorising the tour,” Mukuhlani has told media.
“Needless to say, we at ZC are bursting with excitement as we look forward to playing cricket again and representing our nation with pride and passion in Pakistan.”
25 players already started training
The SRC has emphasised the need to ensure Covid-19 preventative and containment measures are observed at all times for the safety of both the players and officials during the tour.
Zimbabwe have now intensified their preparations for the tour, with a provisional squad of 25 players having been called up for a training camp that started in Harare on Tuesday (22).
Part of ICC World Cup Super League
Meanwhile, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced yesterday that ZC has been “granted permission by their Government to travel to Pakistan for their proposed white-ball tour next month”. The series will be a part of ICC’s Cricket World Cup Super League, it adds.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) also confirmed the development.
“This series is critical to Pakistan as it aspires to qualify directly for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 and, as such, every point in the Super League will count. Our last ODI series was against Sri Lanka, 12 months ago, so the boys will have to hit the ground running and try to pocket maximum points,” Zakir Khan, PCB Director for International Cricket, was quoted by ICC as saying yesterday.
Zims to be hosted after National T20 Cup
“We have strategically scheduled Zimbabwe’s matches in Multan and Rawalpindi, the venues which will be hosting the National T20 Cup from 30 September to 18 October,” Khan has added.
He has also added: “By the time Zimbabwe arrives, we would have gained enough experience on bio-securing hotels, player transportation, the venues, and the players’ dressing rooms as delivery of this series will be under strict Covid-19 protocols to ensure the health and safety of all participants.”
TOUR SCHEDULE
Pakistan vs. Zimbabwe
ODI Series at Multan:
30 October
1 November
3 November
T20I Series at Rawalpindi:
7 November
8 November
10 November
Zimbabwe’s Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation, Kirsty Coventry (on extreme left) and Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) Chairman Tavengwa Mukuhlani (2nd left) having a chat with the Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board Ehsan Mani (on extreme right)[/caption]
As Sri Lanka is showing extreme caution about hosting their forthcoming Test series with Bangladesh next month, the Government of Zimbabwe has now granted its cricket board, Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC), permission to tour Pakistan for a limited-overs series in October and November, the Pakistan media revealed yesterday (23).
“ZC has received the good news this week through the Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC),” international media said yesterday.
“The Sports and Recreation Commission hereby gives you notice, following your application, that the Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation has approved your request to tour Pakistan to play the referenced matches,” SRC Director General Prince Mupazviriho has written in a letter to ZC.
ZC Chairman elated
ZC Chairman Tavengwa Mukuhlani has applauded the Government for authorising the tour, which will see Zimbabwe playing for the first time since March when many countries across the world banned sporting activities and international travel as part of pandemic lockdown measures aimed at containing the spread of Covid-19.
As of the schedule that was announced yesterday, Zimbabwe will play three ODIs from 30 October to 3 November at Multan before playing three T20Is from 7 to 10 November at Rawalpindi.
Current Covid situation in Pakistan
Pakistan, a country with over 212 million population, has decisively flattened the Covid-19 curve since its peak reported in June. Yet it has reported over 300,000 coronavirus cases with nearly 6,500 fatalities. Yesterday, Pakistan’s official number of infections was reported as 582, with four deaths.
Zimbabwe, which has an estimated population of 14.4 million, has meanwhile reported over 7,500 Covid-19 positive cases with 225 deaths.
Cricket in Pakistan has a special emphasis at present simply for the fact that her current Prime Minister is none other than former World Cup-winning legendary fast-bowler Imran Khan.
‘Bursting with excitement’
“We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to our Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation, the Honourable Kirsty Coventry, the SRC and the entire Government of Zimbabwe for authorising the tour,” Mukuhlani has told media.
“Needless to say, we at ZC are bursting with excitement as we look forward to playing cricket again and representing our nation with pride and passion in Pakistan.”
25 players already started training
The SRC has emphasised the need to ensure Covid-19 preventative and containment measures are observed at all times for the safety of both the players and officials during the tour.
Zimbabwe have now intensified their preparations for the tour, with a provisional squad of 25 players having been called up for a training camp that started in Harare on Tuesday (22).
Part of ICC World Cup Super League
Meanwhile, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced yesterday that ZC has been “granted permission by their Government to travel to Pakistan for their proposed white-ball tour next month”. The series will be a part of ICC’s Cricket World Cup Super League, it adds.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) also confirmed the development.
“This series is critical to Pakistan as it aspires to qualify directly for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 and, as such, every point in the Super League will count. Our last ODI series was against Sri Lanka, 12 months ago, so the boys will have to hit the ground running and try to pocket maximum points,” Zakir Khan, PCB Director for International Cricket, was quoted by ICC as saying yesterday.
Zims to be hosted after National T20 Cup
“We have strategically scheduled Zimbabwe’s matches in Multan and Rawalpindi, the venues which will be hosting the National T20 Cup from 30 September to 18 October,” Khan has added.
He has also added: “By the time Zimbabwe arrives, we would have gained enough experience on bio-securing hotels, player transportation, the venues, and the players’ dressing rooms as delivery of this series will be under strict Covid-19 protocols to ensure the health and safety of all participants.”
TOUR SCHEDULE
Pakistan vs. Zimbabwe
ODI Series at Multan:
30 October
1 November
3 November
T20I Series at Rawalpindi:
7 November
8 November
10 November