LAHORE: The efforts towards long-awaited revival of international cricket in Pakistan received a major boost on Monday when Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Najam Sethi revealed that Sri Lanka and West Indies boards had consented to tour the country for Twenty20 Internationals later this year following next month’s visit of ICC World XI side which will include “top players of top cricketing nations”.

Both the PCB and its West Indian counterpart (West Indies Cricket) made the announcement about the planned three-match T20 series simultaneously on Monday.

“I had already informed that the ICC World XI and Sri Lanka have agreed to visit Pakistan and now another big development is that West Indies have also agreed to come to Pakistan in late November for a three-match T20 International series [in Lahore],” Sethi told reporters at a hurriedly-arranged news conference here at the Gaddafi Stadium on Monday.

“The World XI will be visiting Lahore in the second week of September. At the moment, I am restricted not to announce the names of the [World XI] squad which features top players of top cricketing nations. However, I will be in a position to disclose those names, which I possess, within the next 72 hours,” added Sethi.

West Indies Cricket, on the expected T20s in Pakistan, issued the following press release: “West Indies and the PCB are advancing discussions that will see the West Indies team playing three T20 matches with Pakistan team in Lahore in late November 2017.

PCB chief says trips subject to successful ICC World XI games next month

“The tour would be subject to the safe conclusion of the ICC World XI team’s three-matches in Lahore in September and affirmation of manageable security by the ICC-sponsored international security company overseeing the security arrangements of the World XI in September.

“The announcement followed discussions between Cricket West Indies president Dave Cameron and Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Najam Sethi.

“Both sides expressed a desire to facilitate the return of international cricket to Pakistan,” read the release.

Sethi further said that though the Punjab government had given its green signal for international cricket in Lahore, he would announce exact dates of the World XI visit later.

About Sri Lanka’s trip, Sethi said they would visit Lahore in October — after competing in two Tests and five One-day Internationals against Pakistan at neutral venues of the UAE — for one or two of the three-match T20 International series originally planned for the Emirates.

While underlining the fact that Sri Lankans were the very victims of the March 2009 ghastly terror attack in Lahore, Sethi termed Sri Lanka Cricket’s decision to send their team to Pakistan a great move.

“Though some cricketing circles in Sri Lanka are still opposing the step to send their team to Lahore, SLC president Thilanga Sumathipala has made a bold move by deciding to allow his national team to visit Pakistan, for which he deserves appreciation,” Sethi said.

However, on a sombre note, the PCB chairman said though Sri Lanka and West Indies had agreed to come to Pakistan, only a successful visit by the ICC World XI would confirm both the series.

“The ICC security team either in the end of August or during the first week of September will also be arriving in Lahore to ensure [appropriate] security arrangements for the World XI games and we hope there will be no problem as the Punjab government is ready to host the visitors,” the chief stated.

“Reviving international cricket in Pakistan was my main target and I have fulfilled this promise,” declared Sethi. “The PCB conveyed Pakistani nation’s feelings to the world of cricket and they have started to respond positively.

“And by the grace of God and with the prayers of the nation, slowly and gradually international cricket in Pakistan will be fully restored.”

To a question, Sethi said the Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations was linked to the reputed international security company whose services the ICC had hired for ensuring the safety of foreign teams seeking to visit Pakistan, adding FICA would also accept the security report of that company.

On whether all the above-mentioned international matches would be staged in Lahore, Sethi said: “We are desirous to hold matches in Karachi as well but so far the [cricketing] world has not shown its willingness to play matches anywhere other than Lahore. We requested all foreign cricket officials to play some games in Karachi too, to which they asked us to first hold PSL matches there to prove the city is safe.

“I will go to Karachi to meet Sindh governor, chief minister and corps commander to discuss security measures for the foreigners in order to get their security clearance before organising some PSL matches in Karachi next year.”

Meanwhile, Sethi said after the confirmation of World XI visit to Lahore, the PCB had to change the dates of its National T20 Cup, which he said would now be held from Nov 4 to 19, instead of starting from Aug 25.

He said all the Pakistan players featuring in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) and representing different English counties would go back by Aug 26 to rejoin their foreign assignments after attending the Aug 22-25 fitness camp planned by national team head coach Mickey Arthur.

Published in Dawn, August 22nd, 2017