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After the success of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2017 final in Lahore, the International Cricket Council (ICC) is planning to send a World XI team to Pakistan later this year for a Twenty20 series, The Guardian reported.
PSL Chairman Najam Sethi confirmed that international cricket would be returning to Pakistan while speaking to DawnNews.
The Guardian had reported that a four-match series would be played on Sept 22, 23, 28 and 29 in Lahore. The PSL chairman, however, said the details regarding the series were 'tentative'.
Sethi said that although the report published by The Guardian regarding the ICC's latest decision was "spot on", the number of matches in the series and the dates on which they would be held are subject to change.
Sethi also said that Pakistan Cricket Board was in touch with cricket boards of various countries, such as the West Indies, to hold more series in the country in the coming years.
"I can't reveal more details at the moment but we are in touch with boards of other countries and we will inform [the public] soon," he added.
ICC Pakistan Task Force head Giles Clarke who visited Pakistan earlier this year had promised he would ensure the ICC follows up on the plans once PSL ends, Sethi said.
"The decision to hold the international Twenty20 series was dependent on the success of PSL final, which is why we chose not to make the development public," he said.
Sethi announced the decision in a tweet lauding the success of the tournament held in Lahore on March 5 amid tight security.
"PSL Lahore has opened the door [allowing] international cricket" to return to Pakistan."
Read more
On DawnNews
Comments (74) Closed
Mar 06, 2017 11:51pm
why only Lahore and not Karachi, Rawalpindi, Peshawar etc.... Ab Batao
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Mar 06, 2017 11:52pm
This is such a great news. Kudos to the PCB for standing up to the 'pressure of the fear of unknown' and arranging for a fun filled PSL finals in Lahore.
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Mar 06, 2017 11:54pm
In peshawar also please (:
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Mar 06, 2017 11:55pm
Congrats n best of luck Pakistan...
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Mar 06, 2017 11:56pm
Best of luck and Congratulations...
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Mar 07, 2017 12:00am
Isolation. Anyone???
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Mar 07, 2017 12:01am
ICC XI ? The likes of Rayad Emrit ?
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Mar 07, 2017 12:07am
its great news..psl opened doors of international cricket for Pakistan..
great achievement.... Pakistan zindabad
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Mar 07, 2017 12:05am
Icc will send a world 11 by the end of sep to play 4 matches in lahore :) I distinctly remember jayasuria lara and others representing world 11 abt 3-4 years ago in karachi also zim touring pak 2015 but international cricket did not return to Pakistan.... Also sep end sa playing Bangladesh, England playing westindies, Indians won't come to Pakistan as their govt won't allow, Meaning the only countries left are aus, nz or Sri hmmm and what if they too arrange a series soooo who will ICC send Pakistan to play :)
Ireland, Zimbabwe and Afghanistan Haha and that's a WORLD 11 or may be retired and discarded players or club cricketers will come.... What's the headline again? International cricket returns to Pakistan... Wah, if they r happy then make an international tour in Pakistan 3 odis against srilanka or a triseries in lahore for a week
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Mar 07, 2017 12:20am
Why only Lahore ?
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Mar 07, 2017 12:21am
Bad omen for IK!
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Mar 07, 2017 12:18am
its great news psl opend the doors for international cricket in Pakistan...
great achievement Pakistan zindabad.........
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Mar 07, 2017 12:26am
West Indies has been the biggest supporter of cricket in Pakistan and our team. A BIG Thank you to them.
India has been at the opposite spectrum, trying to isolate us but have failed miserably.
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Mar 07, 2017 12:31am
Great news. I would suggest to expand it to other cities too. We can start off with Sheikhupura which has hosted international cricket matches in the past? The teams can fly from their hotels to the stadium which should not take more than 10 minutes. Also, comparatively speaking it should be easier to secure.
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Mar 07, 2017 12:38am
This is cool but I hope that cricket is not politicised. All major cities must experience such events and I think karachi, Peshawar, etc must also host one cricket game as this will only improve tourism and consumer spending. Considering our history i think this will as usual become a political battle ground. No need to spend money on new stadiums unless its not present in a particular city, instead renovate and improve the existing stadiums to cater the needs of both local and international games.
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Mar 07, 2017 01:05am
Big Big...... applause for Sethi , the whole PSL team and Govt of Punjab..
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Mar 07, 2017 01:07am
Not sure it is real or not..because so many players backed out for lahore final..world 11 means top players around the world, will they agree?? Probably bilateral series would make better option,where only 1 cricket board need to be convinced.
Convincing 5 or 6 boards at a time to send their top players sounds Herculean task.
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Mar 07, 2017 01:13am
Pakistan is ready to host everyone everywhere
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Mar 07, 2017 01:13am
Sethi: I might start liking you!
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Mar 07, 2017 01:15am
September is too far. We should have had something in the next three months, before the Champions Trophy.
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Mar 07, 2017 01:18am
Yeh Cheez !!! good luck PCB
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Mar 07, 2017 01:21am
Depends on who the ICC XI will be whether it's Darren Sammy leading a few unknown cricketers from unknown sides,only time will tell.Moreover conducting a single match is different from hosting a series with different venues.Anyways people of Pakistan will always welcome any form of Cricket.
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Mar 07, 2017 01:23am
Great work.
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Mar 07, 2017 01:26am
Way to go, haters gonna hate
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Mar 07, 2017 01:37am
The hard-work of Sethi is undeniable towards making PSL a successful event. On the other hand over legendary cricketer The Great IK is going low day by day just to prove he was right, that Pakistan shouldn't hold PSL in Lahore. I don't know what kind of weed this (IK) man is taking nowadays. I know you hate PMLN but for god's sake leave the politics aside when it comes to national interest and particularly for cricket, which the citizen love. I have lost faith in IK and he should apologize to the entire nation. I would never vote for this man again in my entire life. God save Pak from this man.
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Mar 07, 2017 02:04am
Waoo... congratulation Pakistan and thankyou dear sethi
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Mar 07, 2017 03:02am
This is a good, positive and encouraging move in the right direction. Hats of to Najam sethi
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Mar 07, 2017 03:13am
Mubarrak Baad Pakistan, PSL! Job well done, MA! Now the haters and naysayers will be put to shame!
#TRUEHERO-DarrenSammy #DarrenSavesPSL/LAHORE!
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Mar 07, 2017 03:10am
I am sure Imran Khan would find some flaw in this development as well and his supporters will second him as usual
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Mar 07, 2017 03:34am
First of all CONGRATS to pakistan for conducting the PCL final in lahore
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Mar 07, 2017 03:55am
To start with, matches should be evenly distributed between Lahore and Karachi. Later on, venues should be expanded to include Rawalpindi, Multan, etc.
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Mar 07, 2017 04:23am
Great News! For All Pakistanis
PCB has to lay Strong Foundation for PSL inside Pakistan which stay's in all test of time.
Hat's off to Pakistan Law / Security agencies.
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Mar 07, 2017 04:23am
Good development.
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Mar 07, 2017 05:57am
I would like Giles Clark to send a strong team from his own country!
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Mar 07, 2017 06:02am
All good things will return to Pakistan when good & bad taliban elements are flushed out of Pakistan.Good wishes from India.
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Mar 07, 2017 06:07am
Icc has no authority to send any team. Country like west Indies Zimbabwe Africa can only will take a part into it.
I wish pakistan all the best, but concerns remains their only.
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Mar 07, 2017 06:30am
So is the team all retired players or the Associate nations?
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Mar 07, 2017 06:38am
It takes lots of guts to stage such an big event like psl final in Lahore.man of the moment NAJAM SETHI.
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Mar 07, 2017 06:46am
is lahore the only city in pakistan? -- how about karachi or peshawar or rawalpindi or multan?
lahore is pakistan
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Mar 07, 2017 07:02am
ICC 11? Let's see who are all coming to Pak to play cricket.
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Mar 07, 2017 07:15am
Why all matches will be played in Lahore only. Karachi is much bigger than Lahore. Please make sure Lahore and Karachi should get equal share. Readers please comment.
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Mar 07, 2017 07:19am
Positive development
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Mar 07, 2017 07:21am
Let's see what teams actually end up coming. 10 bucks says maybe West Indies and one other team.
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Mar 07, 2017 07:18am
@vishal pathare - Thanks for the kind wishes.
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Mar 07, 2017 07:56am
Its a great news. Matches should not be only in Lahore, other cities should also be considered.
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Mar 07, 2017 08:08am
Players will be from Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe, UAE and few from west Indies playing ICC world XI in Pakistan.
I bet NO one will come from Oz, England, new Zealand, India, Srilanka.
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Mar 07, 2017 08:14am
We want Pakistan to develop in all fronts. A developed nation will never try to have bad relationship with neighbours. That will bring peace.
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Mar 07, 2017 08:31am
So nice to hear that hope cricket will return soon to Pakistan all the best
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Mar 07, 2017 08:38am
ICC XI? I am sure no Indians will come. Even then if we get at least some players who can be potentially selected by their countries (I do not mean Bangladesh or Zimbabwe - no offense) then we can say that International cricket has returned to our country.
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Mar 07, 2017 09:11am
Let's see who are coming in ICC 11. It may consist of the 8 who played PSL final and 3 more from of players rejected for PSL final. Let's see the caliber of the players.
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Mar 07, 2017 09:14am
Lahore again ?
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Mar 07, 2017 09:21am
Patience always gets rewarded .slow and steady wins the race..well done pakistan...hope to see return of cricket in pakistan...cheers from an indian cricket fan from cochin.
.
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Mar 07, 2017 09:22am
Great news. Love from India. We want Pak to progress and happy to know cricket will return to Pak. It is difficult for India-Pak to be friends but lets avoid being enemies. Let us enjoy each other success. Congratulations.
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Mar 07, 2017 09:24am
@Atif Mirza Lets not get carried away and doubt the intentions. One step at a time, no bias against any cities shd be assumed. Similarly, we shd not doubt the patriotism of leaders like IK when he raises concerns. Its all good for cricket and Pakistan!
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Mar 07, 2017 09:29am
I would love to see Pakistan becoming one of the best countries of the world.
Best of Luck from UAE.
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Mar 07, 2017 09:41am
Who will come to see a World XI, which I presume would mostly include retired veterans making off season money.
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Mar 07, 2017 09:45am
No matter if it is Lahore or any other city, it should be in Pakistan and that is enough
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Mar 07, 2017 10:10am
It wont happen as long as BCCI is in power.....
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Mar 07, 2017 10:21am
Why only Lahore and why not Karachi? What can be done in Lahore can be done in Karachi with beefed up security. NO excuses, because security is OK as claimed by the security agencies. Salams
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Mar 07, 2017 10:31am
They are actually planning to have the world cup in Pakistan. That is a secret that Najam Sethi is not disclosing at this monent.
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Mar 07, 2017 10:34am
I don't think this will happen. If you see how many players who are presently a part of their own home team's XI played the PSL final? How many opted out? ICC cannot put a gun on a player's head and force them to play. Many players may themselves opt out. The ICC XI would probably have players from associate teams and non-active players. It won't feature the real T20 giants (non-Pakistani- as they will play Pakistan's XI) like ABD, Warner, Kohli, Roy, Starc, Ashwin, etc.
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Mar 07, 2017 11:12am
@a Its ok...Let the word spread...let more people come n see Pakistan....rome was not built overnight
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Mar 07, 2017 11:16am
Please do not loosen security for the sake of public.....Otherwise everything including cricket will be back to square one...
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Mar 07, 2017 04:43pm
@Einstein babar "it should be in Pakistan and that is enough" And that will be Lahore, and that is enough.
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Mar 07, 2017 04:59pm
@N K Ali "Why only Lahore and why not Karachi? " Because they are from Lahore. PM, CM, PCB, IK, Sethi. They are not here to work for other cities. Get your own PCB, PM, CM, or Sethi, if you want something for you. Better not have any Sethi, leave that for Lahore.
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Mar 07, 2017 05:52pm
@Akil Akhtar what has BCCI got to do in this?
Wrong diagnose won't make you select right medication. However if want to turn blind eye on actual problem then you may have convenience to keep blaming some imaginary one & can keep living in illusion.
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Mar 07, 2017 06:49pm
@Shahdab just relax and be optimistic. And stop blaming others for your own fault. International teams did not come to pakistan between 2009 and 2017 as pakistan failed to provide security for srilankan team and as a result all other teams felt insecure to travel to pakistan..its not about isolation but outcome of your own doing
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Mar 07, 2017 09:26pm
ICC don't put any price on such as 10k~50K USD like what players got to come to Lahore for PSL finals. Thats the true indication of player's willingness to come ....
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Mar 08, 2017 03:51pm
Is Lahore the only city in the country? But then what else can one expect to happen under PML govt
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Mar 08, 2017 04:10pm
Good for Pakistan.
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Mar 08, 2017 04:25pm
I am proud Indian and i am a Hindu as well. I am more then confident that Pakistan will come stronger one day. We share same DNA . Despite of different religious Beliefs.
We are creator of MOhan Jadaro, Hadapa and takshila. Jai Hind.
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Mar 08, 2017 04:41pm
@Shahdab -September is six months away
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Mar 08, 2017 05:42pm
Do you represent Punjab Cricket Board or Pakistan Cricket Board, I guess by organizing all matches in Punjab our ruler want to send message to rest of the world that ONLY PUNJAB IS SAFE.
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Mar 08, 2017 11:36pm
Najam Sethi I wish you the bestest of good luck if your endevour produce positive results.
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