Zimbabwe in Pakistan without India's coach


After the Pakistan tour, India refused to play a bilateral cricket series against Pakistan in a neutral venue due to political tensions. This time the Indian government did not allow a former cricketer of the national team to go to Pakistan.


That is why the Zimbabwe cricket team has to tour Pakistan without coach Lalchand Rajput. Due to the hostile relations between India and Pakistan, the Zimbabweans had to board a Pakistan-bound flight without a head coach.


The former Indian cricket Rajput is unable to visit Pakistan due to a travel ban imposed by the Indian government.


Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) said in a statement today that the Indian embassy in Harare had requested the ZC not to force Rajput to travel to Pakistan.


The request was made by the Indian Embassy in Zimbabwe, citing travel rules for its citizens enacted by the Indian government. Rajput will now be replaced by Zimbabwe's acting coach, Douglas Hondo, the team's bowling coach and former fast bowler.


Rajput, who played two Tests and four ODIs for India in the 1980s, was appointed acting coach of Zimbabwe in May 2016. Three months later, the ZC handed over the responsibility permanently to the Rajputs.


The Zimbabwe cricket team left Harare for Pakistan yesterday. The team is scheduled to reach Islamabad today via Dubai. The 32-member team will leave for Rawalpindi after reaching Islamabad.


The three ODIs of the series will be played in Rawalpindi, followed by a three-match T20 series in Lahore. The ODI series will start from October 30.


The series between Pakistan and Zimbabwe is in a bio-protected environment. Zimbabwe cricketers have been tested once in Harare before boarding a plane to Pakistan. After reaching Pakistan, they will be tested again.