Zimbabwe to tour Pakistan as per schedule: PCB chief

Karachi: The Pakistan Cricket Board said on Friday that Zimbabwe would tour the country after earlier calling off the series due to security apprehensions after an attack on the minority Ismaili community members in Karachi.

"The Chairman of Zimbabwe Cricket Wilson Manase has called me three times since yesterday to reaffirm that Zimbabwe would be touring Pakistan as per schedule," PCB Chairman Shaharyar Khan said in Lahore.

Confusion reigned late on Thursday when first Cricket Zimbabwe announced they had opted out of the short tour because of security apprehensions following the attack in which 46 people were killed.

But half an hour later the Zimbabwe officials retracted their statement saying they were still discussing the matter as the PCB had reassured them that foolproof security would be given to their team during their stay in Lahore.

Zimbabwe is due to arrive in Pakistan on May 19 to play two T20 matches and three One-Day Internationals all in Lahore.

No test teams have toured Pakistan since March, 2009 when militants attacked the Sri Lankan cricket team's bus in Lahore killing six Pakistani policemen and a van driver.

Six members of the Sri Lanka squad were also injured.

Khan said the PCB had reassured Cricket Zimbabwe state level security for the touring side.