Darren Sammy is likely to lead World XI against Pakistan

Former West Indies captain Darren Sammy is likely to lead the World XI side. The ICC World XI unit will play against Pakistan in Pakistan next month. According to the highly placed sources in Pakistan, the ICC has “almost cleared” the three T-20 matches either in Lahore or both in Lahore and Karachi. Now only the security clearance from the FICA (world body overseeing the players’ interest) is awaited.

The PCB had earlier recalled all the contracted players from the Carribean Premier League and the county championship including their Champions Trophy winnings skipper Sarfaraz Khan. This might well be the moment Pakistan cricket was looking for. Pakistan have previously only hosted Zimbabwe for a series. It was a series of 5-ODI games which Pakistan won comfortably.

Won the WT20 twice

“Sammy has won the World T20 tournament twice and is a strong contender for the captaincy”, one of the sources said. The other connection which looks interesting is that Sammy has been a captain of the Peshawar Zalmi team in the Pakistan Super League (PSL). Andy Flower, the former Zimbabwe player, who also coached England will be the manager/coach of the World XI.

The Indian cricket board will need government permission and it is to be seen how they would react to the Shashank Manohar-led ICC request. The PCB will eye the likes of Indian captain Virat Kohli and the other match-winners to participate in the event

Sri Lanka to visit Pakistan

In the meantime, Sri Lanka Cricket (board) is “strongly considering” to send its team to Pakistan to play two T20 matches later this year, it is reliably learnt here. According to the highly placed sources in Colombo, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) new chairman Nazam Sethi did extend the invitation to all ACC (Asian Cricket Council) members (during the meeting in Colombo on Saturday) to play in Pakistan, the SLC is believed to have been considering to send its team to Pakistan after their bilateral series in UAE.

“Our team will be playing three Tests and three ODIs’ against Pakistan in UAE and then move to Pakistan to play two T20 matches, most probably in Lahore”, added the source. This will be the first tour by the Sri Lankan unit since the 2009 terror attack.