PCB seeking change in World XI schedule to include major int’l players

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board has accelerated its efforts to re-schedule the expected World XI tour to Pakistan to ensure inclusion of major cricketers from around the world, PCB sources said on Thursday.

According to initially agreed-upon plans, an ICC World XI team is to tour Pakistan in late September this year for a three-match T20 series. However, PCB sources confided that the board is trying to re-schedule the tour for the first week of September to ensure availability of major players for the planned series.

The international players that the PCB is attempting to rope in for the series are not available during the last week of September due to other cricketing commitments, the sources said. The board is therefore trying to hold the series in the first week of September so that a maximum number of big names can participate in the T20 series.

The ICC, in a meeting last month, gave a go-ahead to send an ICC World XI team for a three-match T20 series against Pakistan.

The plan, backed by the ICC board, is aimed to bring international cricket back to Pakistan.

“Plans for a World XI to play in Pakistan later this year continue to be developed as the ICC Board confirmed its support of Pakistan’s efforts to bring international cricket back to Pakistan,” the ICC said in a statement after its board meeting in London in June.

No major Test team has toured Pakistan since the attack on Sri Lankan team in Lahore in 2009; the drought, however, was broken in 2015 when Zimbabwe toured Pakistan to play three ODIs and two T20Is in Lahore.

The list of players visiting with the World XI squad is yet to be known, but it is expected that following the backing of the ICC board, all major Test nations will have representation in the event.