KARACHI, Oct 18: Former Sri Lanka skipper Sanath Jayasuriya said on Thursday that Pakistan was safe to host foreign cricket teams, as he arrived to lead an international all-star XI in two Twenty20 matches.

Jayasuriya will captain the International World XI, featuring former South African Test players Andre Nel and Nantie Hayward, against Pakistan All Stars, led by current all-rounder Shahid Afridi.

Overseas sides have shunned Pakistan over security fears since terrorists attacked the Sri Lankan team bus during a Test in Lahore in March 2009, killing eight people.

But Jayasuriya, who was part of the Sri Lankan one-day squad two months before the tragic 2009 incident, said he hoped this weekend’s matches would help internationals return to the cricket-mad country.

“I am happy to be part of these matches,” Jayasuriya told reporters on his arrival. “It depends on country to country [whether they tour Pakistan] but in my opinion Pakistan is a safe country.

“The [March 2009] incident of Lahore was not the best thing to have happened and the suspension of cricket in Pakistan is very unfortunate because the people love the game here.”

A number of West Indies players, including Adam Sanford, one-day specialist Ricardo Powell and pace bowler Jermaine Lawson, will also feature for the tourists.

Alvin Kallicharran, the double World Cup-winning West Indian batsman coaching the international XI, echoed Jayasuriya’s optimism.

“I came here way back in 1972 to raise funds for flood victims and this time it’s another noble cause: promotion of cricket in Pakistan,” Kallicharran remarked.

“Pakistan is a part of world cricket and we are here to show that Pakistan is a place to play cricket.”

Powell, who is touring Pakistan for the first time, felt Pakistan should receive international teams.

“I think it’s about time that world cricket returns to Pakistan,” Powell stated. “Twenty20 is the most exciting form of the game that you have right now and the teams are here to really enjoy themselves.”

The matches are a personal initiative of the Sindh Sports Minister Dr Mohammad Ali Shah, who claimed the matches had the backing of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

But the PCB has distanced itself from the matches, to be played on Saturday and Sunday at the National Stadium in Karachi, saying the board had only provided the venue and made players available, insisting security was the responsibility of the organiser.

Meanwhile, the organisers said of the tickets made available at several centres for the two matches, some centres had already sold out their quota.

“We are expecting the matches will draw huge crowds. We are expecting this on the basis of the positive response shown by the fans to the sale of tickets for the matches,” one of the organisers said.

The tickets, put on sale on Wednesday at different centres, have denominations of Rs30, Rs200 and Rs500.—APP