*KARACHI : *The Pakistan cricket team, on Monday, was stopped fromtravelling to Bulawayo due to security concerns with the team currentlystranded in Harare.
The players’ luggage and other items have been transported via bus to thecity, however, the players, who were supposed to travel by air, have beentold to stay in Harare due to the ‘non-availability of hotel rooms’ — thisis the official explanation for the delay, Tribune has reported.
Pakistan team’s security officer Colonel (retd) Azam has travelled toBulawayo to access the situation and the team is expected to travel toBulawayo on Thursday.
General elections are set to take place in Zimbabwe on July 30 and thesecurity situation is not ideal in the country. On June 23, there was ablast in the White City Stadium in Bulawayo during a presidential rallywhere two people were killed and 49 others were injured.
That brought the recently-concluded Tri-Series in danger of being carriedout with Australia voicing their concern over the security situation.
However, after assurances from ZC, the series went on with Pakistanemerging victorious.
The Men in Green next face Zimbabwe in a five-match ODI series which isexpected to take place in Bulawayo and, according to sources, Pakistaniplayers have asked the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to ask their Zimbabweancounterparts — Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) — to shift matches to Harare fromBulawayo.