Several Zimbabwean players are wary of touring Pakistan next month but have committed to making the 10-day trip out of necessity to play competitive cricket. Speaking on condition of anonymity, players told ESPNcricinfo they are everything from "nervous" to "scared" of visiting the country no Test team has been to in six years, even though they have been promised heightened security during their stay.
"We need the cricket," one player said. "And it's not like we have a lot of tours lined up," another added.
Zimbabwe have not played any cricket since the World Cup, which is no different to India, South Africa, Sri Lanka or Australia, but they also did not have many tours scheduled for the rest of 2015. They had been in what Zimbabwe Cricket chairman Wilson Manase described as "extensive discussions with Pakistan which started last year," to help fill the gap. An agreement was reached this week.
Pakistan promised both safety and a reciprocal tour to Zimbabwe in August, the details of which have yet to be confirmed.
The itinerary for Zimbabwe's visit to Pakistan has been released with two T20s and three ODIs, which will all be played at Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium. Karachi, which was also mooted as a venue for the tour, was scrapped because of logistical problems that could not guarantee the same level of safety as in Lahore.
Courtesy: ESPN