West Indies set to join Pakistan in Zimbabwe for a tri-series

West Indies set to join Pakistan in Zimbabwe for a tri-series: Pakistan and Zimbabwe’s limited overs series in August is expected to become a tri-series with the West Indies set to join the party as competition to qualify for the 2017 Champions Trophy hots up. The inclusion of West Indies virtually makes the series a shoot out between Windies and Pakistan, a battle for the final spot in the champions trophy 2017.

Pakistan are due to tour the Zimbabwe in a reciprocal arrangement with Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC), who sent their team to Pakistan in May to play two T20Is and three one-day internationals, the first Test-playing nation to tour Pakistan in more than six years.

It is understood that West Indies are close to pen a deal that will essentially make the tournament a three way contest. A Zimbabwe Cricket official told cricket.com.au, “We are currently in discussions with West Indies Cricket Board, “We have invited West Indies to play the tri-series but nothing is finalised yet.”

West Indies’ last ODI was the World Cup quarter-final defeat to New Zealand in March and their next confirmed engagement is not until October when they will tour Sri Lanka.

The Windies currently languish at the bottom of the ICC rankings sitting at the 8th position with 88 points and Pakistan even poorer at 89 points. Pakistan will play ODI series against Sri Lanka in July and Zimbabwe in August and could leapfrog the Caribbean team if they remained idle.

Bangladesh, after their historic 2-1 ODI series victory at home against India, now have 93 points and have qualified for the eight-team tournament set to be played in the United Kingdom.

It would be the second successive year Zimbabwe had hosted a one-day tri-series, after Australia and South Africa visited last September.