ISLAMABAD: Zimbabwe’s cricket squad arrived in Pakistan on Tuesday — minus their Indian coach Lalchand Rajput, who had been suggested to keep away from the rival South Asian nation.
The 20-man Zimbabwe group can be competing in a sequence of three One-day internationals and three Twenty20 Internationals in opposition to Babar Azam-led Pakistan facet. Your complete One-day Worldwide rubber can be performed on the Pindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi with the primary match scheduled on Oct 30.
The visiting squad members, within the meantime, will full a compulsory virus quarantine interval.
Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) stated in an announcement that they had been contacted by the Embassy of India in Harare, requesting that Rajput be exempted from the tour “in accordance with the travel guidelines stipulated by the Government of India for its citizens”.
ZC additionally confirmed that Rajput had acquired a visa from the Embassy of Pakistan, refuting varied experiences that prompt he had been denied.
“Zimbabwe head coach [Lalchand] Rajput will miss the Pakistan tour after Indian embassy in Harare wrote to us asking that Rajput, who is an Indian national, be exempted from visiting Pakistan,” a Zimbabwe Cricket assertion learn.
In Rajput’s absence, bowling coach Douglas Hondo — a former Take a look at quick bowler — will supervise Zimbabwe for the tour, with opening batsman Chamu Chibhabha on the helm.
India and Pakistan have been bitter rivals since independence from Britain in 1947, with relations taking a recent flip for the more serious final yr following New Delhi’s resolution to strip Indian-administered Kashmir of its partial autonomy.
The remaining two ODIs can be performed on Nov 1 and three, whereas the three Twenty20 Internationals are set for Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Nov 7, eight and 10, respectively
Rajput performed two Checks and 4 One-day internationals in a brief profession earlier than turning to teaching. He was appointed Zimbabwe coach in August 2018.
The limited-over sequence will additional the revival of worldwide cricket in Pakistan, suspended after the Sri Lankan group bus was attacked in Lahore in 2009.
Zimbabwe had been additionally the primary group to finish Pakistan’s five-year isolation by touring in Could 2015.
South Africa are additionally slated to tour Pakistan in January, whereas England appear prone to come for the primary time since 2005 for a three-match Twenty20 sequence, additionally in January.
Printed in Daybreak, October 21st, 2020
