Only 3 International cricketers in the World XI squad have played in Pakistan before

History is all set to be recreated as the World XI team steps foot in Pakistan to play three T20 internationals at the Gaddafi Stadium. The excitement is already on the peak as the tickets for the fixtures has already sold out. While someone like Darren Sammy did play in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) final in Lahore earlier this year, only 3 players from the squad have played international cricket in Pakistan.

Veteran cricketer Paul Collingwood was a part of the English squad which visited Pakistan in 2005 to play two Tests and 5 One Day Internationals. Indeed Collingwood was really impressive with 96 and 80 runs in the Test match played in Lahore. However, he had a forgettable ODI series where he scored just 115 runs.

The other player to have played in Pakistan earlier is South African star batsman Hashim Amla who has mesmerised the cricketing world with his consistency. Amla played just two Test matches. He didn’t have a great tour as he scored just one fifty in four innings.

However, Bangladesh’s primer batsman Tamim Iqbal is the one who visited Pakistan twice in 2008. Once for a bilateral series and then as a part of the national team in the Asia Cup which was held there. He has 3 half centuries in Pakistan, all in the ODIs including one against India.

As for Sammy, he hasn’t featured in an international game in Pakistan, but he displayed his valour while leading Peshawar Zalmi in the finals of the PSL which was played at the same venue earlier this year. He even scored a quickfire 28 runs from 11 balls as his team went on to lift the PSL season 2 title.

Imran Tahir, on the other hand, was born in Pakistan before he shifted his base to South Africa. He too would be keen on playing a game there. Overall the arrangements are in full swing as the cricketing fraternity awaits to watch the World XI tour to Pakistan.