Lahore to host World XI matches in September 2017

Over the last few months, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has been trying hard to get international cricket back to Pakistani soil. The effort has always been there but the processes have certainly speeded up in the recent times. One key moment of achievement for Pakistan cricket was successful hosting on the PSL 2017 finals in Lahore. Despite some players pulling out of the big game, the organizers went ahead with the game and it turned out to be a success.

The success of PSL final surely motivated the board officials and they have been making plans to get back cricket to Pakistan since then. Their efforts got another boost when the members of the ICC Special Task Force visited Pakistan recently.

The Chief of the Task Force had also conceded that it is only a matter of time that international cricket would return to the country. Soon, the PCB revealed that they are planning to host the World XI team for a T20 series this year. The confirmation regarding the same is yet to be given by the board and the ICC.

However, as per the recent tweet by the former chief cricket correspondent of The Guardian, the dates of the World XI matches have been confirmed. The three T20 matches will be played on September 21, September 23, and September 24. Here is what he tweeted:

World XI matches in Lahore on 21,23 and 24 Sept

— mike selvey (@selvecricket) June 24, 2017

It will be worth noting who the players of the World XI would be. Moreover, whether the overseas players will be willing to play in Lahore or not will also be interesting to see. Cricket has deserted the venues in Pakistan ever since the Sri Lankan team bus was attacked by the terrorists in the year 2009. Since then, no major Test playing country has toured Pakistan. Zimbabwe played a short limited overs series in the country back in 2015.