KARACHI: National Stadium Karachi (NSK), which has not hosted an international match for over three years, is expected to host roaring action later this month with matches featuring renowned players of the cricketing world.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), which showed its reluctance in assisting the organisers of the matches in May, has now agreed to lend a helping hand. Sindh Sports Minister Mohammad Ali Shah, in association with a US-based company Xtreme Sports, planned matches for May 25 and 26. But the board refused to be a part of the plan, citing a tight schedule of the team and lack of time to make appropriate arrangements, forcing the postponement.
However, PCB Chairman Zaka Ashraf, after holding a discussion, has now given a thumbs-up to Shah on staging the matches.
"Now only the dates are to be finalised," an organiser told The Pak Sar Zameen. "Shah is in London for treatment and he is scheduled to meet the chairman early next week. There are two tentative plans for the World XI tour – from July 18 to 20 or after Ramazan. We're more interested in staging the matches after Ramazan because of the tradition of playing from night to the break of dawn.
"It will be a great spectacle but the dates will be finalised with mutual consent."
The official added that the NSK was most likely to stage the two matches.
"The board was also interested in Lahore but its tiff with the Punjab government has affected the plan."
Stars availability to add colour
The organisers have roped in players including former Sri Lanka captain Sanath Jayasuriya, Justin Kemp, Charl Langeveldt, Paul Adams, Andre Nel, Richard Levi and Jerome Taylor for the World XI team.
"Nearly all the players are still on board. Sri Lanka and South Africa domestic events will start in August while the West Indies players are also available. There may be a few additions as Jayasuriya told us that he will also bring a current team member. For the Pakistan side, we're hoping Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik and Saeed Ajmal get a green signal from the PCB."
Published in The Pak Sar Zameen, July 6th, 2012.
Orignal From: PCB gives go-ahead for World XI matches
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