LAHORE: South African Test captain Faf du Plessis will lead a ICC World XI team comprising players from several Test-playing nations in a three-match T20 series against Pakistan in Lahore next month, chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Najam Sethi announced here on Thursday.

“The World XI squad face Pakistan in a three-match T20 International series, named the Independence Cup, on Sept 12, 13 and 15 in Lahore,” Sethi said during a press conference here.

“On behalf of the PCB and the cricket-loving public, I welcome the ICC World XI team to Pakistan to play in the T20 series,” he added.

“This will be an auspicious moment for Pakistan cricket and I am positive that it will serve to open the doors of international cricket in Pakistan.”

The eagerly-awaited series is part of a campaign aimed at restoring international cricket in Pakistan which has not hosted any top-level international cricket contest since 2009.

While announcing the 14-member World XI squad, Sethi said it was a great day for Pakistan cricket.

“Five players from South Africa, three from Australia, two from West Indies and one each from England, Sri Lanka, New Zealand and Bangladesh are part of the World XI squad,” the PCB chief revealed.

Former Zimbabwe captain Andy Flower will be the coach of the visiting World XI side which will undergo a two-day training camp in Dubai before coming to Lahore.

Prominent in the World XI squad are South Africa’s premier batsman Hashim Amla, his team-mate leg-spinner Imran Tahir, the African country’s middle-order batsman David Miller and its pace spearhead Morne Morkel, former West Indies captain and T20 specialist Darren Sammy who also led Peshawar Zalmi to victory in this year’s Pakistan Super League final, dashing Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal, former England captain Paul Collingwood and Sri Lankan all-rounder Thisara Perera.

Other players are Samuel Badree (West Indies), George Bailey, Ben Cutting, Tim Paine (all Australia) and Grant Elliott (New Zealand).

Sethi paid glowing tribute to Giles Clarke, the head of ICC Task Force on resumption of international cricket in Pakistan, for his tremendous efforts in selecting the World XI.

“Gathering the players for the [World XI] team, collecting $1.2 million for experts to come to Pakistan to observe the security situation, credit for all of this goes to Giles Clarke,” Sethi said.

“I would like to congratulate Clarke for helping [us] facilitate the revival of international cricket in Pakistan. I am confident that this World XI tour shall be a harbinger of other full member nations visiting us in the months to come.”

Looking ahead, Sethi said, the PCB now faces a challenge of successfully holding the World XI series.

“We have just 15 days [to organise the matches] after receiving the names of the World XI players. We have to sell media rights, besides making lot of security arrangements, all of which we hope to do smoothly,” he said.

The next task ahead of him, the PCB chairman underlined, was to hold international matches in Karachi.

“After it [World XI series] my prime target will be to hold international matches in Karachi. I will try to urge the ICC security delegation, which is coming in the first week of September, to also visit Karachi for analysing the security situation there. However, to finally get green signal to stage international games in Karachi will require holding some PSL matches there,” Sethi outlined.

A trouble-free World XI series is vital for the planned visits to Lahore by Sri Lanka and West Indies teams who will be arriving in the provincial capital for T20 Internationals against Pakistan in October and November, respectively.

Meanwhile, Sethi read out the statements of Du Plessis, Flower and Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed on the forthcoming World XI series in Pakistan.

Welcoming the series, Du Plessis was quoted as saying, “I am honoured to have been appointed as captain of such a diverse, attractive and well-balanced [World XI] side. Like most of the players, I look forward to my maiden tour to Lahore and play my part in the safe and gradual resumption of international cricket in Pakistan.

“All the members of the squad have complete faith and trust in the assessment and judgment of the security experts, who have assured us that there will be no compromise on the safety and security of all those involved in the series.

“As professionals, we are getting paid to play in the series, but the bottom line is that if we didn’t feel safe, no amount of money would get us there. In this background, we will land in Lahore with nothing except cricket in our minds.

“I have featured in some very exciting matches against Pakistan but playing Pakistan in front of its passionate supporters will be a unique occasion, which I can’t wait to experience,” added Du Plessis.

Flower, who visited Pakistan in 1993, 1996 and 1998 with Zimbabwe’s natio­nal teams, said: “I have enjoyed all my previous tours to Pakistan and look forward to returning to Lahore next month.

“All the players are satisfied and comfortable with the security arrangements that will be put in place for the [World XI] series and happy to be part of the first step towards the safe return of international cricket to Pakistan.”

Sarfaraz said, “I am really excited to see the World XI team coming to Pakistan and keenly look forward to playing in front of our committed supporters.

“I am confident that through this tour of the World XI, the global cricket community, including players, media and visitors, will get a better understanding and perception of Pakistan, which is a peace-loving and extremely hospitable nation that loves cricket.

“I would like to congratulate the PCB and the ICC for making this tour happen.”

Meanwhile, right-handed Amla, who toured Pakistan under Graeme Smith’s South African side back in 2007, said: “I am looking forward to the trip to Pakistan. The rehabilitation of my injured shoulder is progressing well and I am confident of being fit for the matches.”

Published in Dawn, August 25th, 2017