Pakistan fans could enjoy a lot of entertainment in the coming months
Image courtesy of: Zimbio
Pakistan fans could finally get to see their national team in action on home soil as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed that a three-match Twenty20 series against a World Xi will take place next month.
In addition to a World XI touring Pakistan, Sri Lanka could play a Twenty20 International in Lahore as part of their series against Pakistan, which will be held in the United Arab Emirates.
Furthermore, the West Indies could play three Twenty20 Internationals against Pakistan in Lahore in November.
Since the Sri Lankan national team’s bus was attacked by armed militants in March 2009, Zimbabwe have been the only Full-Member nation to visit Pakistan, which occurred back in May 2015.
The World XI will comprise of players from Test playing nations and be coached by former England head coach Andy Flower.
Prior to the Twenty20 series in Pakistan, Flower and the World XI squad will travel to Dubai for a seven-day training camp.
The Twenty20 series is set to get underway on September 10, but an security team from the International Cricket Council (ICC) will visit Lahore to assess the conditions before making a decision on whether the series can proceed.
“This is a very big thing,” PCB chairman Najam Sethi said. “September, October and November are big months. It’s a big agenda, we need your prayers and we will open the doors and international teams will come. Pray that we keep our security solid. The Punjab government has given us the signal and preparations are in full swing.
“Within the next 72 hours I will announce the names of the players [in the World XI]. I have the names with me but at the moment I can say that all top players from top cricketing nations will tour Pakistan.”
Meanwhile, Sethi confirmed that the PCB and Cricket West Indies are already deep in negotiations about the three-match Twenty20 series in November.
The series was originally scheduled to be held in March, but the security situation in Pakistan was not adequate for the matches to go ahead.
“That tour will be subject to the safe conclusion of ICC World XI team’s three-match series in Lahore in September, and affirmation of manageable security by the ICC-sponsored international security company overseeing the security arrangements of the World XI,” Sethi read from a statement issued by Cricket West Indies.
All the upcoming matches will be held in Lahore, but Sethi is hoping to use other venues, most notably Karachi, in the near future.
“I wish we could shift it to Karachi, but so far it’s only in Lahore,” Sethi said. “Those who are coming let them come. I am planning to go to Karachi and will meet with security personnel.”