Zimbabwe offers to tour Pakistan to help flood victims

KARACHI, (Reuters) – Zimbabwe’s cricket team has  offered to tour Pakistan to raise funds for the victims of the  country’s massive floods, despite the suspension of foreign  visits following a militant attack last year.

An official of the Pakistan Cricket Board told Reuters the  governing body of the ZCU had made contact over a proposed tour.

“They are willing to come over and play a series as they  want to help us raise funds for the flood victims. They have  left it up to us to give dates and schedule for the tour,” media  manager Nadeem Sarwar said.

Pakistan has been banned from hosting international cricket  tours since militants attacked the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore  last year. Six Pakistani policemen and a van driver were killed  while five Sri Lankan players were wounded.

The International Cricket Council moved matches of the 2011  World Cup away from Pakistan because of security concerns.

Since the attack, Pakistan have been forced to play home  series at neutral venues including matches against Australia and  New Zealand.

Pakistan are scheduled to play a ‘home’ test series against  South Africa in the United Arab Emirates in October.

Sarwar said the ICC and member boards were keen to help   Pakistan cricket and most importantly to raise funds for flood  victims.

PCB Chairman Ijaz Butt told TV One” on Friday that they had  asked several boards including India to play matches to raise  money for flood victims.

The worst floods in Pakistan’s history have claimed around  1,500 lives, washed away thousands of villages and left millions  homeless.