The International Cricket Council (ICC) has decided not to appoint its match officials for the upcoming series between Pakistan and Zimbabwe due to the current security situation in Pakistan.
In a media statement, released on Sunday, the ICC said that decision has been made after receiving a report from its security consultant.
The ICC has informed the matter to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC).
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) has confirmed the upcoming tour to Pakistan starting from May 22 against the advice of the country`s Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC).
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 ICC 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 visit makes Zimbabwe the first Test-playing nation to tour Pakistan since 2009, when an attack on the Sri Lankan team bus resulted in the suspension of international cricket from Pakistan. Afghanistan and Kenya have both toured Pakistan in that time, without incident.
Zimbabwe will play two Twenty20 International matches and three One Day International matches in the tour.
