Zimbabwe cricket issues statement cancelling Pakistan tour

Zimbabwe team

Zimbabwe Cricket has issued a statement cancelling the tour to Pakistan on the advice of the country's sports regulatory body.

Zimbabwe were due to arrive in Pakistan on May 22 to play three one-day and two T20 matches, but security concerns arose on Wednesday when gunmen attacked a passenger bus and killed at least 43 people in the southern city of Karachi. After an assessment of the situation this evening, Zimbabwe Cricket opted to pull out of the series citing security issues.

“The decision not to tour at this time has been taken after considering the advice from the country's supreme sports regulatory authority, the Sports and Recreational Commission (SRC),” Zimbabwe Cricket said in a statement as quoted by wisdenindia.com.

But 15 minutes after issuing a press release saying the Pakistan tour was supsended, Zimbabwe Cricket said that discussions were still ongoing.

Minutes after release announcing cancellation of Pakistan tour, Zim issue a second release saying discussions are ongoing. #confusion

— Firdose Moonda (@FirdoseM) May 14, 2015

15 minutes after issuing a press release saying the Pakistan tour is supsended, Zimbabwe Cricket now says: "Discussions are still ongoing."

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) May 14, 2015

While the current status of the tour is still unclear, sources are reporting that the decision to cancel the series is likely to be confirmed after the end of the discussions.

No major international teams have toured Pakistan since militants attacked the Sri Lankan bus in Lahore in March 2009, killing six Pakistani policemen and two civilians. Over the last few years, Pakistan have had to play their ‘home’ matches at the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

While they have had reasonable success doing so, they haven’t had the kind of support that they would get back home in Pakistan. And now, it seems they will have to continue suffering that disadvantage for the foreseeable future.

Zimbabwe cancel tour to Pakistan on the advice of the country's sports and recreation committee who deem it would "not be safe." #cricket

— Firdose Moonda (@FirdoseM) May 14, 2015

Just in: Zimbabwe Cricket has suspended the tour to Pakistan on the advice of the country's sports regulatory body.

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) May 14, 2015