Former Zimbabwe captain Andy Flower will play a key role in the formation of the World XI which is likely to tour Pakistan in mid-September, a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) official confirmed to DawnNews.

Pakistan has not hosted international cricket — barring a limited-overs series against Zimbabwe in 2015 — since the terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore in March 2009.

"The ICC handed over responsibility to Andy Flower to pick the 15 best players for the World XI squad. The ICC will make a final decision on the selection of the squad," the PCB official said.

According to the official, Flower is likely to tour Pakistan along with the World XI as team manager. However, the ICC will make the final decision about the team's management.

The official also said that an important meeting between PCB officials and the Punjab government would be held next week in regard to the visit of World XI.

The matters of security arrangements and issuance of a no-objection certificate would be discussed in the meeting, he said, adding that the World XI and Pakistan team would play three Twenty20 matches in Lahore.