Zimbabwe's On-Again, Off-Again Pakistan Tour Not Fair on Players

Three days before Zimbabwe’s scheduled arrival in Pakistan for a series of limited-overs games, there is still no certainty on whether the tour is actually going ahead or not.

The Pakistan Cricket Board say the series will go ahead while Zimbabwe Cricket say discussions are still ongoing. On Saturday, a large number of policemen featured in a security dress rehearsal ahead of a tour that nobody knows is on or off.

Right from the moment it was announced Zimbabwe would tour Pakistan, the first full member to do so since the terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team in 2009, there has been mixed reaction.

Misbah-ul-Haq said, via Umar Farooq of espncricinfo, it was a "big joy" while some Zim players expressed their apprehension over travelling to the country. The Federation of International Cricketers' Association (FICA) said its security experts found the "risk is unmanageable." While the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) promised time and time again that they do their utmost to ensure security is top-notch, the whole tour has been shrouded in uncertainty and, for some, concern.

There is no doubt that international cricket returning to Pakistan would be a great thing. Since Pakistan were first banned from playing international cricket on home soil, more than a dozen players have made their debuts, but many of them are yet to play an international game at home.

There is no substitute for stepping out in front of your home fans. The advantage that comes with the familiarity of conditions, too, is a huge boost. Those who have visited Pakistan say it's one of the best places to tour, but with a security concern attached, players and administrators have to evaluate whether it's actually worth it or not.

The on-again, off-again uncertainty that surrounds the tour is not fair on the players of either team. How are Zimbabwe's players supposed to adequately prepare for a tour that might not even happen? Furthermore, how are players supposed to prepare for a tour that many have found to be a huge risk?

Although none of Zimbabwe's players made themselves unavailable for selection for the tour, it’s likely many will have some apprehension in the back of their minds. With so many distractions in the lead-up to this tour, many players will find it hard to focus as the series begins.

The most important question is what does Pakistan hope to gain from this? Having seen just how chaotic and uncertain organising a tour to the country is, it's highly unlikely any other full member is going to agree to a tour of the country any time soon. So, in the end, the PCB will not have gained much in the long term.

They would have spent a load of money, which they do not have, with an outcome that will serve very little purpose in the greater scheme of things.

In the short term, however, the tour will offer some reprieve for players and fans who have been exiled for so long.