Zimbabwe Cricket forced to change venue for second Test from Bulawayo to Harare

Zimbabwe’s batsman Prosper Usteya (L) looks on during the second day of the first cricket test match between Pakistan and hosts Zimbabwe at the Harare Sports Club

Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) have put it place some drastic cost-saving measures, which will see the second Test against Pakistan in Harare itself instead of travelling to Bulawayo.

The reason given behind such a drastic decision is to ensure the remainder of the series goes ahead as planned as “travelling to Bulawayo might have taken more than 48 hours,” which would have hampered the start of second Test, especially if the ongoing first Test makes it to the day 5.

EspnCricinfo reports that the second Test, scheduled to start next Tuesday, will be hosted by Harare Sports Club and that the ground staff and match referee all have approved the proposal of ZC. The decision was officially confirmed over the loudspeaker at Harare Sports Club on Wednesday evening, where the first Test is currently held.

The official stance of the board is that Queens Club was “not in a condition to host the Test”. That now means the entire Pakistan series, which included two Twenty20s, three ODIs and two Tests will be staged on the same ground. As a result,ZC would save close to US$50,000 on travel costs and hotel fees.

Moreover, most of the national team players are based in Harare, which would mean they will stay at home, rather than in paid hotels in Bulawayo, and the money, which otherwise would have been spent on driving television crew and players to Bulawayo, will also be saved.

Meanwhile, Zimbabwe’s other upcoming tour was the one by Sri Lanka next month. The series included two Tests, three ODIs and two Twenty20s, but ZC have requested to Sri Lankan board to postpone this. Sri Lanka Cricket have also confirmed they received an email from ZC in this regard and are planning alternative dates for the series.

Before the Pakistan series started, and also before the start of third ODI, players formed a union and did not train in protest after not being paid. They gave board ultimatums which put the possibility of the whole tour at risk. But later on, each time, they agreed to play after ZC promised payment.

On the ground though, players are still not paid. So they have set another deadline of Friday this week. This time they are resolute that they will boycott the second Test if board does not clear their dues, which include salaries from of last two months and match fees.