adminBipin Dani in MUMBAI, India
The arrival time of the Zimbabwe cricket team at Lahore’s Alama Iqbal International Airport last night was kept a secret for security reasons. The 16-man squad, which left Harare on Sunday night, had a long stopover at Dubai. “The team is arriving tonight but the timings are undisclosed. Only a group of police officials and PCB officials are made aware about it”, the official attached to Mushtaq Sukhera, the Inspector General of Police, said from Lahore.
Only a few PCB officials were likely to be at the airport to greet the touring team.
The high-level security plan for the visiting team was briefed to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in Islamabad yesterday.
“The IGP is scheduled to meet the PM today and the day-long meeting with the Hon. Prime Minister is likely to have discussions on the safety and security of the team”, the official added.
The Prime Minister is also the chief-patron of the Pakistan Cricket Board.
“What I can assure is that the IGP will return (to Lahore) tonight before the Zimbabweans arrive”, he added.
Zimbabwe are scheduled to play two Twenty20 and three ODIs on this 12-day tour.
They are the first Full Member country to visit Pakistan since militants attacked the Sri Lankan team in Lahore in March 2009.
Shahid Afridi, the Twenty20 captain of the Pakistan, was also scheduled to arrive (from England) last night.
“We are set to meet him either late night today or tomorrow (Tuesday) morning before announcing the final team for the two Twenty20 matches.
“The team for the three ODIs will be announced once the second Twenty20 match is over on May 24”, one of the national selectors said.
“The fitness tests of four players (Sohail Khan, Ehsan Adil, Mohammad Irfan and Rahat Ali) out of a pool of 22 will be done on Monday and we expect their fitness reports from the physio.”
Online Reporter