HARARE: Zimbabwe cricket authorities on Thursday abandoned a planned tour to Pakistan, citing poor security after recent militant violence that has revived fears after a deadly attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in 2009.
The tour would have been the first by a Test-playing nation since militants attacked the Sri Lankan bus in Lahore five years ago, killing six Pakistani policemen and two civilians and injuring six Sri Lankan players.
Pakistan has been desperate to regain its status as an international cricket venue, but security concerns rose further this week when gunmen attacked a passenger bus and killed at least 43 people in the southern city of Karachi.
“The decision not to tour at this time has been taken after considering the advice from the country’s supreme sports regulatory authority, the Sports and Recreational Commission (SRC),” Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) said in a statement.
“We have consulted on the security situation in Pakistan... and have been advised that it would not be safe for the team to travel to Pakistan,” Charles Nhemachena, the SRC director general wrote to the cricket union Thursday.
The decision came after an advance team visited Pakistan last week and expressed confidence that the tour would go ahead.
Zimbabwe this week announced its 16-man squad, but a private daily paper on Thursday said the team should not be put in danger.
“One thing is very clear; Pakistan is not a safe destination to travel to,” the Daily News said.
“Pakistan is on fire at the moment.”
Zimbabwe abandons planned tour to Pakistan
Zimbabwe abandons planned tour to Pakistan
Crystal Palace get rematch with Cypriots Larnaca in Conference League
- Last year’s FA Cup winners Palace lost 1-0 at home to Larnaca in October on the way to finishing 10th in the 36-team league phase
- This season’s Conference League final will be played in the German city of Leipzig
PARIS: Crystal Palace will have the chance to avenge their shock defeat by AEK Larnaca earlier this season after being drawn on Friday to play the Cypriot side again in the last 16 of the UEFA Conference League.
Last year’s FA Cup winners Palace lost 1-0 at home to Larnaca in October on the way to finishing 10th in the 36-team league phase.
Palace defeated Bosnian side Zrinjski Mostar in the knockout phase play-offs to reach the last 16, and a win over two legs against the club who currently sit third in the Cypriot league could mean a heavyweight quarter-final against Fiorentina.
The Serie A side, runners-up in the Conference League in 2023 and 2024, must first get the better of Polish side Rakow Czestochowa, who finished second in the league phase behind Strasbourg. The French club will play Rijeka of Croatia in the last 16.
If Palace reach the semifinals, they will play one of Poland’s Lech Poznan, Shakhtar Donetsk, AZ Alkmaar or Sparta Prague.
This season’s Conference League final will be played in the German city of Leipzig on Wednesday, May 27.
Conference League last 16 draw
Lech Poznan (POL) v Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR)
AZ Alkmaar (NED) v Sparta Prague (CZE)
Crystal Palace (ENG) v AEK Larnaca (CYP)
Fiorentina (ITA) v Rakow Czestochowa (POL)
Samsunspor (TUR) v Rayo Vallecano (ESP)
Celje (SLO) v AEK Athens (GRE)
Sigma Olomouc (CZE) v Mainz (GER)
Rijeka (CRO) v Strasbourg (FRA)
- First legs to be played March 12, second legs March 19
Quarter-finals
Lech Poznan/Shakhtar Donetsk v AZ Alkmaar/Sparta Prague
Crystal Palace/AEK Larnaca v Fiorentina/Rakow
Samsunspor/Rayo Vallecano v Celje/AEK Athens
Sigma Olomouc/Mainz v Rijeka/Strasbourg
- First legs April 9, second legs April 16
Semi-finals
Lech Poznan/Shakhtar/AZ Alkmaar/Sparta Prague v Crystal Palace/AEK Larnaca/Fiorentina/Rakow
Samsunspor/Rayo Vallecano/Celje/AEK Athens v Sigma Olomouc/Mainz/Rijeka/Strasbourg
- First legs April 30, second legs May 7.
