The International Cricket Council (ICC) will send a World XI team to Pakistan in September this year for a four-match Twwenty20 series, PTV reported.
Head of ICC’s Task Team on Pakistan Giles Clarke today promised to bring a World XI to Pakistan in September this year, reported the British newspaper.
“The desire is to give the cricket-starved Pakistani supporters the chance to see some of the world’s finest players in live action,” Clarke said.
“The world of cricket needs to help Pakistan, who cannot continue to play their home fixtures overseas. The youth need inspiring, and the national teams need far more cricket played in familiar terrain. Furthermore, the terrorists cannot win and cricket must not give up on Pakistan,” said the head of ICC’s team seeking to revive cricket in Pakistan.
The T20 series will be called The Independence Cup to mark the 70th anniversary of partition in the sub-continent. Names for the ICC team have not been revealed yet.
Giles Clarke in January this year made a two-day visit to Lahore to assess security arrangements for international teams. He said he was impressed with the arrangements put in place.
Chairman PSL Najam Sethi also confirmed the news through a tweet that “PSL Lahore has opened the door to return of international cricket. ICC XI will play four T20 matches in Lahore in September.”
Ab Bolo! PSL Lahore has opened the door to return of international cricket. ICC 11 will play four t20 matches in Lahore in Sept. Hooray!
— Najam Sethi (@najamsethi) March 6, 2017
Earlier Peshawar Zalmi drubbed Quetta Gladiators by 58 runs in the much exciting final match of Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2017. A successful final was held in Lahore is being viewed as a defeat to extremist.
“The PSL final in Lahore is a great occasion for Pakistan as well as for the millions of fans in the country, who have been deprived of watching their players for some time now,” Waseem Akram, who will be returning to Gaddafi Stadium after a long gap, told media.
“I am myself going to Gaddafi Stadium after ten years so it’s a great occasion and we all hope and pray that it happens successfully because a lot depends on this match. Our future in cricket also depends on this.”
Peshawar, who beat Karachi to qualify for the final, have the edge against Quetta Gladiators in the title round, felt Akram.
“Zalmi will have some advantage because of their foreign players, while Quetta’s top foreign players are no more with them. But Twenty20 is different and if you play well you carry the day, so no team is favourite,” he said, adding that he was impressed by Quetta captain Sarfraz Ahmed.
“I like Sarfraz’s aggressive style and since he is also Pakistan’s one-day and Twenty20 captain, that is an added advantage for him.”
