LAHORE – Joining efforts to bring regular international cricket in Pakistan, International Cricket Council’s (ICC) World XI players reached Lahore early Monday to contest a series for Independence Cup.
The intentional players were received by Pakistan Cricket Boar (PCB) head Najam Sethi and other officers at Allama Iqbal Airport, local media reported.
Amid tight security, the team except Samuel Badree, who will reach Lahore later today, was shifted to their hotel at the Mall Road.
Andy Flower, the coach of World XI, said that audience will watch great cricket and hoped that his team will show good performance against Pakistan in the series of Independence Cup.
He also extended appreciation on a warm welcome upon their arrival.
The 14-member team, which will be led by South Africa’s Faf du Plessis, is set to play three T20 matches in Lahore on September 12, 13, and 15 against Pakistan.
Tickets for the first match have sold out, but cricket lovers are making efforts to get tickets for the second and third matches.
Pakistan’s former T20 captain Shahid Afridi talking to BBC termed the arrival of World XI a major development that will help reviving the international cricket in Pakistan. He also hailed efforts of PCB Chairman Najam Sethi and his team in this regard.
Squads
Pakistan
Sarfraz Ahmed (C), Fakhar Zaman, Ahmed Shehzad, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Umar Amin, Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Fahim Ashraf , Hasan Ali, Aamer Yamin, Mohammad Amir, Rumman Raees, Usman Khan, Sohail Khan
World XI
David Miller, Morne Morkel, Tim Paine, Thisara Perera, Imran Tahir, Darren Sammy, Hashim Amla, Grant Elliott, Samuel Badree, George Bailey, Tamim Iqbal, Paul Collingwood, Ben Cutting, Faf du Plessis (C)
