Sports Reporter

ZIMBABWE Cricket have gone ahead with their tour of Pakistan despite Government advising against the trip as the safety of players could not be guaranteed. Zimbabwe arrived in Lahore, Pakistan on Tuesday morning, seven days after gunmen attacked a bus that killed 45 people in Karachi. The team apparently was bolstered by the fact that the attack was 1 234 kilometres from the venue of their games. The tour attracted attention from the world including the International Cricket Council who decided not to send any match officials (umpires) for the two Twenty20 and three One Day International cricket matches. The ZC went to Pakistan without the blessing of the Sports and Recreational Commission, a government body. The SRC have powers to act on ZC and can dissolve or suspend officers at any sports association under Section 30 of the Sports and Recreation Commission Act chapter 25:15, when an association fails to comply with any provision of the Act. Under Section 30 (c), an association that acts contrary to national interest, the board may, after affording the association concerned an opportunity of making representation in the matter, do either or both of the following – (i) suspend all or any of its officers; (ii) direct the Director-General to strike the association from the register. The ZC officials might be sanctioned for going against a directive of the commission. Unconfirmed reports within the cricket team are that some members of the team were not eager to travel, but feared being dropped in future trips hence their participation. The Pakistan Cricket Board promised Zimbabwe tight VIP security which includes armed guards, an armed vehicle escort and helicopter monitoring among other things. Early this month, Zimbabwe sent a delegation to assess the security situation in the country. Among the officials were ZC managing director, Alistair Campbell. The question, however, is, how much does a former cricketer know about security? The militants in Pakistan targeted the Sri Lankan team bus in 2009 and since the attack, no Test-playing nation has visited Pakistan. Pundits fear that the militants may attack Zimbabwean players so as to get international attention. Pakistan is engaged in a bloody struggle against Islamist insurgents who have staged high-profile attacks on civilians. Zimbabwe’s tour of Pakistan is the first after the ICC World Cup co-hosted by New Zealand and Australia. The Chevrons play the first T20 match today while the second T20 will be played on Sunday. The ODI action resumes on May 26 with the first ODI. The second will be played on May 29 while the third and final ODI will be played on May 31 before the visitors depart for Harare on June 1. All matches will be played at Gaddaffi Stadium and will be officiated by Pakistani and Zimbabwean umpires. Fixtures May 22: First T20I May 24: Second T20I May 26: First ODI May 29: Second ODI May 31: Third ODI