ICC not to appoint its match officials for Pakistan-Zimbawe series

DUBAI: The ICC today informed the Pakistan Cricket Board ( PCB) and Zimbabwe Cricket ( ZC) that it will not be appointing its match officials for the upcoming series between the two countries owing to security concerns.

The ICC's decision has been made after receiving a report from its security consultant.

This is the first time a Test nation is touring the country since the terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team bus in 2009.

The ICC Board, during its April meeting, had decided that the playing conditions relating to the appointment of match officials could be waived to allow the PCB to appoint local match officials for this series should the the apex body decide not to send its umpires and referee due to the current security situation in Pakistan.

If this was to occur, the matches would still be considered 'official cricket', even though they will not be played strictly in accordance with the ICC standard playing conditions.

The umpire and referee appointments will be announced by the PCB shortly.

The PCB said on Friday that Zimbabwe would tour the country after earlier calling off the series due to security apprehensions following an attack on the minority Ismaili community members in Karachi.

Zimbabwe is due to arrive in Pakistan on May 19 to play two T20 matches and three One-Day Internationals all in Lahore.

No Test teams have toured Pakistan since March, 2009 when terrorists attacked the Sri Lankan cricket team's bus outside the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore killing six Pakistani policemen and a van driver.

Six members of the Sri Lanka squad were also injured in the attack.

PCB Chairman Shaharyar Khan had said the PCB had reassured Cricket Zimbabwe that state level security would be provided to the touring side.