Pakistan cancel Zimbabwe series

Zimbabwe's scheduled tour of the UAE to play Pakistan has been cancelled, with "financial issues" offered as the reason. 

“We are trying our best to give the team more cricket but unfortunately some of the series have had to be rescheduled,” Zimbabwe coach Andy Waller said.

“Pakistan will not be able to host us in Dubai as per schedule possibly due to financial challenges.

“That means we will have a gap again towards the end of the year.

"But we will play Bangladesh and that has been moved to December when we will play three Tests.”

Zimbabwe's most recent Test series came last September against Pakistan, with the two sides winning one match apiece in Harare.

Australia and South Africa visit Zimbabwe for a triangular ODI series in August-September, and Waller is under no illusions as to the monumental challenge facing his side. 

“It’s a big challenge; we would have wanted to play more cricket in between the last Test and South Africa, but we are going to work hard and make the best out of the training programme," he said. 

"We are playing two of the best sides in the world and we will aim to compete and if we can win one or two matches in the triangular series, then that would be a good achievement."