KARACHI, Pakistan — The hopes of reviving international cricket in Pakistan took a blow as Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) are considering cancelling their upcoming tour on the advice of the country’s sports regulatory body, which deemed that the tour was unsafe.

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Zimbabwe were scheduled on May 19 to arrive in Lahore, where they were to play three one-dayers and two T20s at the Gaddafi Stadium.

The tour looked even closer to happening when ZC managing director Alistair Campbell gave a green signal to the PCB, stating that the national team would arrive and get down to the business of playing cricket.

Campbell had said a week earlier that little small formalities were left and the tour was certainly on.

However, a major incident in Karachi on Wednesday that saw 45 people killed in a terrorist attack that has put the future of the tour into doubt once again. 

Zimbabwe’s sports and recreation committee have since suggested it would not be wise to travel to Pakistan and deemed it unsafe but ZC has stated that the talks are ongoing.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Shaharyar Khan called Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) Chairman Wilson Manase in last ditch efforts to keep the tour alive.

Manase has asked Shaharyar for a day’s time to officially decide about the tour.

“ZC wants its team to travel to Pakistan but their government has issues with it. However, we’ve again assured them that they would be our state guest and will be given fool-proof security,” Shaharyar told Sport 360.