Shahryar Khan, Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) outgoing chief, has invited ICC chairman Shashank Manohar to visit Lahore next month. Confirming the news on Monday (July 3), Khan said he had invited the former BCCI president during the ICC meetings in London last month.
“Manohar said he will look into the invitation and try to make it. But nothing is confirmed yet,” Khan said.
Media reports are suggesting that the PCB chief had invited Manohar to formally attend a farewell reception which will be given to him in Lahore. However, sources close to developments have stated the PCB is also looking to make its a case of hosting a World XI side strong with Manohar’s support. The ICC had announced its plans of sending a World XI team to Pakistan later this year for a three-match T20 series in an attempt to resume international cricket in the country.
Barring Zimbabwe’s visit for a limited-overs series a couple of years ago, no major Test team has toured Pakistan since the attack on Sri Lankan team in Lahore in 2009. Consequently, Pakistan has had to play all of their ‘home’ matches outside of the country in the United Arabia Emirates. But with Pakistan successfully staging the PSL final in Lahore this year, talks of resuming international cricket in the country began doing the rounds.
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“The idea behind inviting Manohar to Lahore is to also finalise the World XI’s tour to Pakistan in September as the ICC has shown its support for the tour,” a source was quoted as saying by PTI.
Najam Sethi, who is expected to take Khan’s position once his tenure comes to an end in August, said that staging the match against the World XI side is important for Pakistan cricket. The head of the PCB executive committee also said the ICC will decide the skipper of the touring side.
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“We see the World XI tour as the beginning of good times for Pakistan cricket and that is why we are giving it so much importance,” Sethi said.
Khan further revealed that PCB had invited Ireland but it did not go ahead due to the touring party’s financial demands. Khan also said the PCB is trying to convince its Sri Lankan counterpart to send the team for a T20 series in Lahore.
“We had invited Ireland in recent times but they have asked for fees to come to Pakistan and right now we are not in a position to afford such expenses,” Khan said.