Players from 7 top nations have agreed to feature in World XI tour of Pakistan

Najam Sethi, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman, has put an end to all speculation about the World XI tour to Pakistan, confirming on Monday (August 21), a three-match Twenty20 International series against Pakistan in Lahore, starting September 10. Sethi also stated that the three games against World XI will be played across four days, but refused to divulge the dates citing security reasons.

Sethi, addressing a press conference and said, “Players from England, New Zealand, West Indies, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Zimbabwe have agreed to play the World XI tournament in Pakistan. India, however, has declined to send its players.” In addition to the World XI, West Indies too would be touring Pakistan for three T20Is in November. So this is expected to be a bumper season for those Pakistani fans who have seen this drought for close to a decade.

Former Zimbabwe captain Andy Flower has been assigned the role of coach of the World XI and will also be the one choosing the squad for the tour, which is financially supported by the International Cricket Council (ICC). India will not be participating and that is certain, but the list is meant to be announced soon and likely to include many South African stars and two Australians as well as representation from other countries.

“A security team from ICC will visit Pakistan at the end of this month to view our security plans,” Sethi said, adding that the Punjab government has given the PCB a green signal for the implementation of the plan particularly because Lahore will be hosting all the matches even though Sethi personally wished that there could be some in Karachi.

Here are the tweets from Pakistani reporters

The World XI list to be announced soon,list comprises of many SA stars,two aussies as well as representation from other countries..

— zainab abbas (@ZAbbasOfficial) August 21, 2017

The World XI team will consist of players from Eng, NZ, WI, SL, BD, AFG & Zim;India has declined to send its players #Cricket #Pakistan

— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) August 21, 2017

2017 September:
World XI to Play Three T20's In Pakistan

2017 November:
West Indies To Play Three T20's In Pakistan.#PAKvWI

— ICC Live Cricket (@ICC2_Live) August 21, 2017

PSL, World XI tour, news of SL and WI teams coming to Pak. Well done @najamsethi for all the efforts to bring Cricket home.

— Faizan Lakhani (@faizanlakhani) August 21, 2017

Joint statement by Cricket West Indies and Pakistan Cricket Board on WI team's tour to Pakistan in November. #Cricket #Pakistan pic.twitter.com/XrDwwy4Mde

— Faizan Lakhani (@faizanlakhani) August 21, 2017

What history says

It was decided on June 24, at the ICC’s annual meeting in London that plans for World XI to be held in Pakistan later this year were “continuing to be developed”. The plan is steps away from the actual execution and it’s fair to say that Pakistan’s victory in the Champion’s Trophy helped the plan to materialize at a great extent.

Pakistan haven’t hosted any high-profile International cricket since the terror attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in March 2009. With the exception of a Zimbabwe tour two years ago, Pakistan has had to play all home matches outside of the country. However, the peaceful hosting of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2017 final in Lahore was partly responsible for building a positive image in their bid towards bringing international cricket back to their country.