Lahore, July 25 (IANS) Pakistan and Zimbabwe have decided to put on hold their One-Day global (ODI) and Twenty20 worldwide series’ to be held from August 17 to September 17 in the African nation.
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After qualifying in ICC champions Trophy PCB refused to play the tri-series including West Indies and Zimbabwe. But the players and the officials stooped to another low when they cancelled the tour of Zimbabwe in August-September this year because of their selfish vested interest to qualify for the champion’s trophy.
The official also clarified that the PCB wouldn’t ruin its cordial relations with the Zimbabwe after the ZC sent their team to Pakistan, bringing Pakistan out of cricketing exile by allowing the subcontinent country to host a series on home soil after six years.
According to reports, PCB proposed to convert the tri-series format into T20s after its “selfish” decision was widely criticised in cricketing circles.
In fact, the PCB wanted to play the triangular ODI series too.
A Pakistan Cricket Board official confirmed to PTI that the tour was officially off.
Had Pakistan lost the ODI rubber in Sri Lanka, participating in the triangular series (in Zimbabwe) would have been the only chance left for the PCB to keep its team’s qualification chances for the Champions Trophy alive. Pakistan now stand on the eighth position with 90 points while West Indies are ninth on the worldwide Cricket Council’s ODI Team Rankings.
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Though Pakistan did it successfully, the second challenge was tougher – of winning the series in Sri Lanka.
