PCB welcomes ECB boss Clarke’s idea of sending World XI team to Pak

LAHORE - The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has welcomed the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chairman Giles Clarke’s plans to send an invitational ICC World XI team to play in Pakistan to end the country’s sporting isolation following the ghastly terror attack on the visiting Sri Lankan team last year.

“The PCB appreciates the views of Mr Clarke on the need for cricket to defeat the terrorists,” a statement issued by the PCB chairman Ijaz Butt said.

“I am very grateful to Mr Clarke, who is a dear friend of Pakistan, for pursuing our case and working tirelessly in bringing international cricket back to Pakistan,” The Daily Times quoted Butt, as saying.

Clarke, who is also ICC’s Pakistan Task Team chief, had earlier said that the cricket community “must keep giving Pakistan cricket the chance to fund itself and move forward”.

“Cricket cannot abandon a nation with such a magnificent history in the game, such wonderful players and such enthusiastic and knowledgeable supporters,” Clarke’s article in The Wisden Cricketer magazine stated.

“It will be an historic moment when international cricket resumes in Pakistan and the first ICC team walks out,” it said.

Counting the costs of no international cricket in Pakistan, Clarke said that the losses are “a brutal impact that few enterprises could survive”.

The ECB chief further said that his board plans on hosting more international matches and series for Pakistan in the next few years.

“The atmosphere, the passionate support and, of course, the tremendous cricket played by the Pakistan team made it a compelling experience. The PCB’s economic needs make it imperative,” Clarke said.

However, no dates for the tour were revealed in a release issued by the magazine.

Leading cricket teams have refused to visit Pakistan following the 2009 attack on the team in Lahore, which killed eight people, as well as injured seven Lankan players and their assistant coach.

The security situation has forced Pakistan to hold its home series against Australia and England in England.

In the last two years, Pakistan “home” games have also been staged in the United Arab Emirates and New Zealand.

Pakistan, which was due to co-host the 2011 World Cup, was also stripped of its matches following the terror attack.

Pakistan was supposed to hold 14 matches, including one semi-final. Eight of Pakistan’s matches have been awarded to other co-hosts India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. (ANI)