The Sunday News
Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
THE Pakistan women’s cricket team has cut its tour of Zimbabwe due to an announcement by Emirates Airlines that they were temporarily suspending flights to Zimbabwe.
A statement from Zimbabwe Cricket on Thursday said they had come to agreement with their Pakistan counterparts to cut the tour.
“Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have mutually agreed to end Pakistan Women’s national cricket team’s ongoing tour to Harare due to the latest travel policies of the visiting side’s carrier, Emirates Airlines,’’ read part of the statement.
Pakistan women celebrate wicket against Zimbabwe
Pakistan won the opening 50-over match on Tuesday by 178 runs and were due to play the second one-dayer on Friday, with the final match of the tour, whose later part was made of up of three Twenty20 Internationals set for 20 February. The tourists were originally scheduled to depart on 21 February but will now leave Zimbabwe on Friday.
“However, following Emirates Airlines’ announcement that it had suspended its flight operations on the Harare-Dubai route from 13 to 28 February, both boards have decided to end the tour after the first match with Pakistan Women now scheduled to leave Harare on Friday, 12 February.”
The development is a massive blow for Zimbabwe women who were looking forward to the rest of the series since Tuesday’s match was their first international piece of action in almost two years.
“It is unfortunate that the Pakistan women’s team have had to cut short their stay in Zimbabwe as a precautionary move after some unforeseen air travel complications arose, but their concern is understandable,” ZC managing director Givemore Makoni said.
Zimbabwe women celebrate against Pakistan
Makoni thanked the PCB for committing to the tour which had promised to leave lasting memories had it not been ended earlier than planned.
“Nonetheless, we would like to thank the PCB for having in the first place committed to the historic tour which we have no doubt would have been memorable and a massive boost for our women’s game had it not been discontinued. We hope to host them again in the near future.”
PCB chief executive Wasim Khan described the decision to end the tour early as a difficult one since ZC had put in place exceptional measures for the series.
“It has been a difficult decision considering Zimbabwe Cricket had put in place excellent arrangements for the series. But the decision by Emirates Airlines to suspend all flights to and from Harare from 13 February to 28 February has meant that we have to bring the squad back in the next 24 hours. We thank Zimbabwe Cricket for their understanding and support, and hope to return at some stage to complete this additional tour,’’ Khan said.
Zimbabwe and Pakistan were using the now abandoned tour as part of their preparations for the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier 2021, a 10-team tournament that will be held in June and July.
The top three teams from that qualifying event will progress to the 50-over ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022 in New Zealand. – @Mdawini_29
