KABUL (SW): A number of Afghan cricket players are scheduled to play in a team consisting international cricket players from several countries in Pakistan in September.
According to the Guardian, Only Zimbabwe and Afghanistan have played in Pakistan since 2009, when following a terrorist attack on Sri Lanka’s team bus in Lahore began an eight-year hiatus by the major touring sides and forced Pakistan to play their home internationals at neutral venues.
Najam Sethi, the Pakistan Cricket Board chairman, confirmed on Monday that, subject to security clearance at the end of this month, the series is due to go ahead in Lahore and added that a one-off Twenty20 against Sri Lanka and a three-match tour by West Indies are also slated to follow in October and November provided the World XI matches pass without incident.
The World XI players are set to earn around £75,000 each for the series that will have international status, military-style protection and is hoped will encourage future tours by national teams. Collingwood, if selected for the squad, would be the one English player as Durham do not feature in the round of County Championship fixtures that takes place at the same time.
India has abstained from introducing their players to the World XI while Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has so far not named the players that would join the World XI against Pakistan.
ENDS
