Zimbabwe to go ahead with tour after suicide attack

The final ODI of the Zimbabwe tour of Pakistan series got the green light after the officials of the two boards had a meeting following the suicide bomb attack incident near the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

The visiting team members met Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and security officials this afternoon to discuss the fate of the ongoing cricket series. A PCB spokesman told ESPNcricinfo that the tour will go ahead as per the schedule.

“The tour will go ahead as planned and the Zimbabwe team will continue with their usual activities today, though they are not training today. They will play the third match on Sunday and subsequently will fly back in the wee hours of Monday.”

News came in after the loud noise which was initially explained as a transformer blast during the 2nd One Day International match, has been described as a suicide attack near the Gaddafi Stadium.

Later, Pakistan’s Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid confirmed that it was an attempt to disrupt the event at the Gaddafi Stadium. A senior inspector and one civilian were killed, and the injured people were rushed to a nearby hospital.

“An attempt to attack the Gaddafi Stadium was foiled by the gallantry of a police official, who lost his life while trying to stop the attacker near Kalma Chowk.”
However, Lahore City Police Officer, Amin Wains said that it is not possible for him to come to the conclusion of the blast.

“At this point of time its not possible for me confirm or say something conclusive that whether it is a suicide attack or cylinder blast. All evidence collected says that most probably a cylinder blast took place in the three-wheeler autorickshaw. We have sent all the evidence to the forensic lab to confirm the nature of the blast.

“Most important it took place outside the red zone which was created for the team. So there was absolutely no abnormality inside or outside the stadium as things were moving normally throughout. Everyone knows that it is a minor sort of incident, although it took two innocent lives, but had it been a suicide the casualties could have been much more than this.

“We have beefed up our security and enhanced our red zone area. We have the resolve and the capacity to provide full security to the honourable members of the Zimbabwe team. They are heroes, we treat them like heroes. We are very delighted that they are visiting our country and this nation is very happy.”

Pakistan have already taken an unassailable lead in the three matches ODI series by 2-0 against Zimbabwe. Last  match will be played on may 31, and the visitors will leave for their home in the early wee hours of Monday.