Faf du Plessis will captain the World XI in Pakistan in September
Image courtesy of: Zimbio
South Africa’s Faf du Plessis will captain the World XI side in their three-match Twenty20 series in Lahore next month.
The first match will be held on September 12, while the second and third games will be played on September 13 and 15 respectively.
Du Plessis, who captains South Africa in Tests and Twenty20 Internationals, will take charge of a side that will have representatives from seven different Test-playing nations.
Du Plessis will be joined by counterparts Hashim Amla, Morne Morkel, David Miller and Imran Tahir, while the Australian trio of George Bailey, Ben Cutting and Tim Paine will be present at the event.
Former West Indies skipper Darren Sammy, who played in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) final in Lahore earlier this year, and spinner Samuel Badree have also confirmed their participation.
England’s Paul Collingwood, New Zealand’s Grant Elliott, Bangladesh’s Tamim Iqbal and Sri Lanka’s Thisara Perera make up the remainder of the World XI squad, which will be coached by Andy Flower.
“I am honoured to have been appointed as captain of such a diverse, attractive and well-balanced side,” Du Plessis said. “Like most of the players I look forward to my maiden tour of Lahore and play my part in the safe and gradual resumption of international cricket in Pakistan.
“All the members of the squad have complete faith and trust in the assessment and judgement of the security experts who have assured us that there will be no compromise on the safety and security of all those involved in the series but the bottom line is if we don’t feel safe, no amount of money would get us there. In this background, we will land in Lahore with nothing but cricket on our minds.”
Pakistan skipper Sarfraz Ahmed is excited about the Twenty20 series and added that he hopes it will lead to international cricket returning to the country.
“I am really excited to see the World XI team coming to Pakistan and keenly look forward to playing in front of our committed crowds and supporters,” he said. “I can assure all Pakistan cricket fans that we have missed playing in front of them, like they have missed watching us live in action.
“I am confident that through this tour of the World XI, the global cricket community, including players, media and visitors will get a better understanding and perception of Pakistan, which is a peace-loving and extremely hospitable nation that loves its cricket.”
International Cricket Council (ICC) chief executive David Richardson added: “The ICC wants to see regular international cricket being played safely in all its Member countries and the World XI playing Pakistan in Lahore next month is a step towards that for the PCB. We are optimistic that this will be the next step in a steady and safe return of international cricket to Pakistan.”
Zimbabwe have been the only Full-Member nation to visit Pakistan since Sri Lanka’s team bus was attacked by armed militants in Lahore in March 2009.
However, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Najam Sethi revealed that Sri Lanka could play a Twenty20 International in Lahore, while there is a possibility of Pakistan hosting the West Indies for a three-match Twenty20 series in November.
World XI Squad: Faf du Plessis (capt), Hashim Amla, Samuel Badree, George Bailey, Paul Collingwood, Ben Cutting, Grant Elliott, Tamim Iqbal, David Miller, Morne Morkel, Tim Paine, Thisara Perera, Imran Tahir, Darren Sammy