Pakistan will be take on a World XI team for three T20 matches in Lahore starting September 12.
Shahid Afridi is very happy with World XI’s visit to Pakistan, but thinks it would have been much better if Indian players had become part of the squad.
In an exclusive talk with BBC Urdu on Monday, the former Pakistan captain said that he sees the ICC World XI’s visit to Pakistan a significant step towards restoration of international cricket in the country.
Afridi said that inclusion of a couple of Indian players could have sent a good message as sports can hep resolve quite serious issues.
Afridi is in Lahore to witness the first T20 match. “It is a significant moment for every Pakistani. Efforts to resume international cricket are bearing fruit.”
The former all-rounder said credit for all the efforts goes to Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Najam Sethi and his entire team.
Shahid Afridi said the tour of World XI would send a positive message to the world that Pakistan is a peace loving country where people love cricket and are excited to see the crickets playing in front of them.
“We should be grateful to the ICC that supported the cricket board. International cricket should resume in Pakistan, absence of cricket was being greatly missed"
This is not the first time Afridi has expressed his desire to see Indian players in the World XI squad. When the tour was announced in August, Afridi had taken to Twitter to welcome the move and also reach out to Indian players.
Afridi had posted, "Really pleased that PCB- ICC have joined hands to bring cricket back home to Pak. Would 've been great to see some Indian players too."
Pakistan will be taking on a World XI team for three T20 matches in Lahore starting September 12.
India play Pakistan only during ICC tournaments. Their last international match was in ICC Champions Trophy 2017 final in June.
This is the world squad that will be travelling to Pakistan for the T20 contests:
Faf du Plessis (captain), Hashim Amla, David Miller, Morne Morkel, Imran Tahir, Samuel Badree, Darren Sammy, George Bailey, Tim Paine, Grant Elliott, Thisara Perera, Paul Collingwood, Ben Cutting, Tamim Iqbal.
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