Lara turns down $1.5 million for Pakistan T20s: report

E-Paper | June 11, 2026

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“Yes, an offer was made to me.” -Photo by AFP

Legendary West Indies batsman Brian Lara turned down a $1.5 million dollar offer to take part in two exhibition Twenty20 matches in Pakistan, The Trinidad Guardian reported.

An International World XI captained by Sri Lankan legend Sanath Jayasuriya and featuring several former South African and West Indian Test players will take on a Pakistan All Stars side led by Shahid Afridi in the two Twenty 20s in Karachi on Saturday and Sunday.

Lara confirmed that he had been approached by organisers but felt his participation in the matches that have not been sanctioned by the ICC or the PCB would send a wrong message.

“Yes, an offer was made to me. Until such time as the governing body in Pakistan is able to convince the rest of the world that the best safety mechanisms have been put in place, and the ICC agrees, I would have to say no.”

Two former West Indies players Ricardo Powell and Jermaine Lawson are included in the International World XI side.

Commenting on the issue Powell said: “I have travelled the world for cricket but never saw better and more stringent security arrangements, I am happy to be in Pakistan and feel that I am contributing to a great cause by being here.”

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Oct 21, 2012 12:37pm

Exactly, There is no mention in his reply as well about money.

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Ajamal

Oct 20, 2012 11:04am

Makes no sense to me. Why would $1.5m be offered to Lara when the entire int'l XI in Pakistan cost around $0.3m? Comfort level of ICC / other boards will remain the same without Lara!!

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Tamilselvan

Oct 20, 2012 11:46am

Guys, watch out. Lara will do everything he can to play mass during Trinidad carnival. So don't have a match which will conflict with carnival schedule. One of the greatest batting genius but very undeciplined outside the pitch has ruined his career compared to Sachin

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noman

Oct 20, 2012 01:25pm

when he played in ICL, did he thought of it as a sanctioned league or unsanctioned one?

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ozair mustafa

Oct 20, 2012 01:10pm

Fine he was invited may be, but ihis comments are not helping , if he cant do any good alteast he has to give his best wishes. He owes this to Pakistani cricket public

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Omar

Oct 20, 2012 01:15pm

i simply don't believe it. maybe 1.5 million rupees.

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Rashid

Oct 21, 2012 07:53am

Pakistan is world's favourite "soft target". You showed real guts Mr. Lara by walking down the path well taken. A friend in need, indeed.

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Desmond Andrade

Oct 21, 2012 04:52am

He is BRIAN LARA.....Money doesNt Matter's ;-) cool decision by Mr.Hall of Fame :-)

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Ahsan

Oct 21, 2012 04:48am

And I think the immense success of this event proves you wrong.

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afzal khan

Oct 21, 2012 01:35am

Who cares if Mr:Lara din,t wants to play in Pakistan and turn down $ 1.5 Millions the other players played very well and enjoyed the play that was Mr: Lara loss and Pakistan gain because we save that money we can spend it on better things.lol

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RAHUL_fun-fact-is-!! (@rahulpetrocrat)

Oct 20, 2012 09:10pm

it shows all foreign players were here only for money..and are pretending to be here supporting the cause

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Syed-S

Oct 21, 2012 08:10pm

Correction - a friend in need is a friend in need.

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Muhib

Oct 20, 2012 06:44pm

I think no team should come to Pakistan. Pakistanis are themselves trying to flee the country...

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Nauman

Oct 20, 2012 06:11pm

Excellent decision.

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Neutral man

Oct 20, 2012 05:06pm

Life is much more valuable than 1.5 million

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Oct 20, 2012 03:45pm

It's called "Star Power"....economics cease to exist when it comes to brand names!

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Obaid

Oct 20, 2012 03:38pm

I am not sure if he would have been offered that kind of money. This is probably the yearly aggregate for the whole Pakistan cricket team . As watching the low quality match, it would have been nice if the money was spent on building couple of good schools for kids. Pajistani poloticians need brain to invest money in the right direction. Eventually, money well spent will produce better cricketers/sportsmen in future..

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GreenKricket

Oct 20, 2012 01:55pm

$1.5 million is very unrealistic. Dr. Shah on a a Pak TV channel had indicated that Lara was approached but they couldn't agree on the amount ($50,000 per game) that Lara demanded. So, the $1.5 million, the ICC and PCB sanctions seem simply fabricated story.

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Zaheer Rizvi (India)

Oct 21, 2012 12:09pm

Well, Muhib is correct. Instead, all of Pak's home series matches should be played in India. We have many grounds here and security arrangements are top-class.

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Ajamal

Oct 21, 2012 08:34am

We are more interested in Lara not coming instead of those who came. By the way, who cares for Lara. Even for West Indies, he only made individual records. He is the most forgettable cricketer.

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Israr raisani

Oct 21, 2012 08:06am

why to risk my life for $1.5 M, Lara response to PCB and beside that we should also flee from this country 50+ people on avg are killed daily in Pakistan. Pakistan is the only country who has lost territory after freedom and a country being atomic power is facing acute shortage of electricity. Great paradox ahh. Patriots don't fool yourself by dignifying Pakistan

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dararao

Oct 21, 2012 10:41am

Instead go to your home

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dararao

Oct 21, 2012 10:44am

You are 100% right. This will only reduce his world fan following club size which by the way is already quite small now.

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