Cash crunch again hits the Zimbabwe cricket as Pakistan cricket team had to delay their travel plans from Harare to Bulawayo, where the five-match ODI series will begin from the Friday (July 13).
All the five matches of the ODI series will be played at Queens Sports Club (Bulawayo) from July 13 to 22. But according to an ESPNcricinfo article, the Pakistan cricket team had to delay their travel plan as they wouldn’t have a hotel to stay in.
Ahead of the five-match ODI series, Pakistan featured in the T20I tri-series that was played in Harare from July 1 to 8 between the hosts Zimbabwe, Australia and Pakistan. Pakistan won the tri-series after beating Australia by 6 wickets in the final on Last Sunday (July 8).
Also read: Sarfraz Ahmed credited the team effort for winning the T20I tri-series
Initially, it was planned that the Pakistan cricket team will travel to Bulawayo on Monday evening. But, it had to be rescheduled after the Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) failed to settle their due payment for the hotel booking.
However, the situation has been sorted now as the Pakistan team will travel in Bulawayo on Thursday morning, one day prior to the opening ODI of the series. They will practice in the afternoon.
On the other hand, the host team players’ have already reached in Bulawayo on Monday evening and started their training on Tuesday morning.
ZC is running out in the financial crisis for last few years. The situation is continuously getting worse as they are hugely struggling to fulfill the payment of players and employees. Even ZC has to postpone the domestic cricket tournaments due to the huge financial crisis. Observing this crisis, the ICC (International Cricket Council) has promised to help them.
Also read: SC doesn’t allow the outstation players in TNPL
While Pakistan is the favorite for the ODI series, who just won the T20I tri-series by beating Australia in the final, Zimbabwe cricketers are looking to impress by making improvement in their cricketing qualities. Despite Zimbabwe cricket team lost four out of four games in the recently concluded home tri-series, their consistent improving performances were not shadowed. Even in their last game of that T20I series against Australia, Zimbabwe team was very close to stunning the cricket world by beating their tough opponents.
