PCB keen on hosting World XI team in September

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is very optimistic about their chances of hosting three T20 matches in Lahore this September. There have been talks about Pakistan hosting a World XI side in a short T20 series for quite some time now. The International Cricket Council (ICC) have also hinted at sending the team to the international-cricket deprived nation.

The PCB Chairman Shaharyar Khan is hoping to finalize things regarding the same in the ongoing meetings of the ICC in London. Things have been very fruitful for Pakistan cricket in the recent times. They were crowned the winners of the Champions Trophy after they thumped the Indian team in the finals of the event recently. Now, the officials of the country’s cricket board hope to bring more joy to the Pakistani fans.

As per the quotes in The New Indian Express, a PCB official has revealed that Shaharyar Khan has had talks with Giles Clarke, the head of the special task force of the ICC. He added that the board does not wish to spend a lot on the series and see it going in vain. Also, the board officials feel this is the right time to finalize a series since things having been on a sweet note for the Pakistani team in the recent times.

“Some issues have to be worked out but Shaharyar Khan has had discussions on them with Giles Clarke, who heads the ICC special task force and who is talking to other cricket boards to send players for the World XI tour,” quoted an official.

Perfect time for finalizing the series

“The PCB does not want a situation where it loses lot of money on the World XI series. But at the same time, with the team having won the Champions Trophy, Shaharyar knows this is the best time to start the process of involving the ICC and member boards in reviving international cricket in Pakistan,” he added further.