Zimbabwean cricket team in Pakistan in 2015
The Zimbabwe cricket team toured Pakistan from 19 to 31 May 2015.[1] The tour consisted of three One Day International (ODI) and two Twenty20 International (T20I) matches, all played at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. It was the first tour by a Test-playing nation since the attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in 2009.[1] Pakistan won the T20I series 2–0 and won the ODI series 2–0 after the third match finished as a no result.[2] It was Pakistan's first ODI series win in two years.[3] Pakistan ODI captain Azhar Ali said "it's been an exciting and emotional series for many reasons. It became important for us, as many of us never played in Pakistan, and winning makes it more significant because it gives you confidence".[4]
| Zimbabwean cricket team in Pakistan in 2015 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 |
 | ||
| Pakistan | Zimbabwe | ||
| Dates | 19 May 2015 – 31 May 2015 | ||
| Captains |
Shahid Afridi (T20Is) Azhar Ali (ODIs) |
Elton Chigumbura (T20Is and 1st ODI) Hamilton Masakadza (2nd & 3rd ODIs) | |
| One Day International series | |||
| Results | Pakistan won the 3-match series 2–0 | ||
| Most runs | Azhar Ali (227) | Chamu Chibhabha (138) | |
| Most wickets | Wahab Riaz (5) | Sikandar Raza & Graeme Cremer (3) | |
| Player of the series | Azhar Ali (Pak) | ||
| Twenty20 International series | |||
| Results | Pakistan won the 2-match series 2–0 | ||
| Most runs | Mukhtar Ahmed (145) | Hamilton Masakadza (82) | |
| Most wickets | Mohammad Sami (4) | Sean Williams (3) | |
| Player of the series | Mukhtar Ahmed (Pak) | ||
Before the tour, several Zimbabwean cricketers expressed their concerns about travelling to Pakistan, but were committed to the trip.[5] Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq had described the tour as "a big joy for all of Pakistan cricket fans, players and for the PCB officials".[6] Tony Irish, the executive chairman of the Federation of International Cricketers' Associations (FICA), said that "we are very concerned about the safety of players and any match officials who may be sent to Pakistan, should this tour go ahead".[7] The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced that it was awaiting the outcome of a security report before deciding if it were to send officials, with the possibility that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) would use its own officials if the ICC was unable to supply them.[8]
Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) were in talks with its own government regarding concerns over security.[9] ZC caused confusion after issuing a press release on 14 May stating the tour had been suspended, but they retracted it just 15 minutes later.[10] On 17 May ZC confirmed that the tour would go ahead.[11] The ICC did not appoint any of its match officials, but made provision for the PCB to use their own umpires.[11] The Zimbabwe team received state guest importance, including more than 4,000 police officers for their security when they arrived in Pakistan at Allama Iqbal International Airport on 19 May to start the tour.[12][13]
Only five players in the Pakistan T20 squad had played a home international match before this tour.[14] Batsman Umar Akmal said that "it will be an amazing feeling, it would mean so much to me. Cricketers around the world take playing at home in front of their own crowds for granted".[15] Tickets for both of the T20 matches sold out within two days,[16] with 60,000 people attending the first game.[17]
In the ODI series, Zimbabwe captain Elton Chigumbura was suspended for the last two matches, due to a bowling a slow over-rate in the first match.[18] Hamilton Masakadza became the Zimbabwean captain for the final two matches in Chigumbura's absence.[19]
During the second ODI match, there was a loud explosion outside the stadium that was thought to have been caused by an electricity transformer.[20] It was later revealed to be a suicide attack that killed a civilian and a Punjab Police officer, while he was trying to stop the suicide bomber.[21] The initial report of the transformer explosion was used to avoid a panic. Despite the attack, the third and final match of the series went ahead as scheduled.[22]
After the matches had concluded, it was revealed that the PCB had paid the players in the Zimbabwe squad US$12,500 each for the tour.[23] This was paid in two amounts, the first when Zimbabwe arrived in Pakistan, and the second after the tour dates had been fulfilled.[23]
T20I series
1st T20I
v |
||
Elton Chigumbura 54 (35) Mohammed Sami 3/36 (4 overs) |
- Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to bat.
- Richmond Mutumbami (Zim) made his T20I debut.
2nd T20I
v |
||
- Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to bat.
- Imad Wasim and Nauman Anwar (both Pak) made their T20I debuts.
ODI series
1st ODI
v |
||
- Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat.
- Elton Chigumbura (Zim) scored his maiden ODI century.[27]
2nd ODI
v |
||
- Pakistan won the toss and elected to field.
3rd ODI
v |
||
Chamu Chibhabha 39* (27) |
- Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat.
- After the 8th over of the Zimbabwean innings there was a floodlight failure, followed by a dust storm. Four overs of play were lost before the innings were restarted. One over later, rain stopped play and the match was abandoned as a no result.[2]
- Babar Azam (Pak) and Roy Kaia (Zim) made their ODI debuts.
References
- "Zimbabwe Cricket confirms Pakistan tour". ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
- "Pakistan take series 2-0 after washout". ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
- "Azhar ton seals first series win in two years". ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
- "Exciting and emotional series for us - Azhar Ali". ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
- "Zimbabwe players express concerns over Pakistan tour". ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
- "Zimbabwe tour 'a big joy' - Misbah". ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
- "FICA warns against touring Pakistan". ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 6 May 2015.
- "ICC assessing Pakistan security". ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 6 May 2015.
- "Confusion surrounds Zimbabwe's tour of Pakistan". ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
- "Pakistan v Zimbabwe: Series in doubt over safety concerns". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
- "Zimbabwe finally confirm Pakistan tour". ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
- "Zimbabwe team arrives in Lahore". ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
- "State guest security for Zimbabwe team". ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
- "In pictures: Pakistan readies for return of international cricket". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 May 2015.
- "'Amazing feeling to play at home' - Umar Akmal". ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 22 May 2015.
- "Pakistan v Zimbabwe: Security high for international cricket return". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 May 2015.
- "The roar of the crowd". The Express Tribune. 23 May 2015. Archived from the original on 23 May 2015. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
- "Chigumbura suspended for two ODIs". ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
- "Zimbabwe face stiffer test without Chigumbura". ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
- "Transformer blast near Gaddafi stadium, say police". ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
- "Suicide blast near Qaddafi Stadium kills sub-inspector". Dawn News. 30 May 2015. Archived from the original on 31 May 2015. Retrieved 31 May 2015.
- "Zimbabwe to go ahead with tour after suicide attack". ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
- "Zimbabwe players given financial guarantee by PCB for tour". ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
- "Malik, Sami return to Pakistan ODI squad". ESPNcricinfo. 25 May 2015. Retrieved 25 May 2015.
- "Uncapped Roy Kaia in Zimbabwe squad". ESPNcricinfo. 12 May 2015. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
- "Sami, Malik in Pakistan's revamped T20 squad". ESPNcricinfo. 19 May 2015. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
- "Malik ton, Riaz aggression give Pakistan big win". ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 26 May 2015.