Pakistan

‘World XI-inspired team may tour Pakistan’

Associate nations also interested in visiting the country, says PCB chief.

Our Correspondent August 11, 2015

A file photo of PCB chairman Shahryar Khan. PHOTO: REUTERS

KARACHI: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Shaharyar Khan has said that an international team — similar to the World XI — could visit Pakistan next September for a two-week period while the Associate nations want to come and play here as soon as possible.

Shaharyar was speaking to reporters at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore after coming back from the UK after a month-long leave.

The former diplomat revealed that he had attended various formal and informal meetings to check out any possibility of building on the home tour of Zimbabwe — including dialogue with Associate nations’ representative and with the International Cricket Council (ICC) Task Force which was made for the revival of cricket in Pakistan.

“ICC Task Force head Giles Clarke has said that he would bring an international team to Pakistan next year,” Shaharyar told the reporters. “He said that they will come here for two weeks and will play at three different venues: Karachi, Lahore and one other city. We had an option of April and September, and Clarke said that September would be suitable.”

He added that Clarke is not in favour of recruiting retired cricketers for the international team. “Instead, active cricketers will be included,” said Shahryar.

The PCB chief said that he would write back to Clarke about the dates and budget so he can start his preparations.

He went on to say that Associates like Scotland, Ireland, Hong Kong and Oman want to come and play in Pakistan — with all teams, apart from Ireland, ready to play against even an A side.

Shaharyar also shed light on Pakistan’s proposed T20 league, stating that it would not be feasible to host the event in Pakistan because top players of the world will not visit the country and thus the purpose would be better served in the UAE or even Qatar.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 11^th, 2015.

Like Sports on Facebook, follow @ETribuneSports on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.