PCB set to host Zimbabwe in ODI and T20 series

The Pakistan Cricket Board and Zimbabwe Cricket Union are close to finalising a one-day international series that will be held in Karachi and Lahore next month.

A senior official of the PCB confirmed to PTI that it had sent a tentative itinerary of three one-day internationals and two T20 matches to the Zimbabwe Cricket Union and were waiting for a final confirmation.

"They had asked for a security plan for the series and we have also sent them that. We are now expecting them to give final confirmation when PCB Chairman, Shaharyar Khan meets with his ZCU counterpart on the sidelines of the ICC meeting this month," the official said.

Under the proposed itinerary sent by the PCB, Zimbabwe will play two one-day internationals and a T20 match in Lahore and a ODI and T20 game in Karachi.

If Zimbabwe agrees to the tour it would be the first by a test playing nation to Pakistan since militants attacked the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore in March, 2009.

Since that incident no test team has toured Pakistan because of security concerns with Bangladesh also pulling out of a confirmed tour at the last moment in 2012.

"This time we are getting positive vibes from the ZCU and hopefully this series will be played onwards from mid-May immediately after the Pakistan team returns from Bangladesh," the official said.

He said that the PCB had prepared and sent a comprehensive security plan to the ZCU for the series after consultations with the government.

"We are also negotiating with two associate member nations to send their teams to Pakistan including the Netherlands," he said.

He said the talks over the series with Zimbabwe began during the World Cup when the ZCU chief executive expressed interest and conveyed it to the manager of the Pakistan team in Australia.

Test nations have avoided touring Pakistan because of the security situation but since 2009 Pakistan has hosted the Afghanistan team and last year the Kenyan national side also came to Lahore for a short one-day series.