A two member security panel went to Lahore on Monday to scrutinize and review the safety arrangements for the World XI tour to Pakistan for a three match T20I series, in Pakistan, named as the Independence Cup. It will be the first big series in Pakistan comprising of some huge names in international cricket ever since the militant attack on Sri Lankan team bus in 2009.
The three match series will be played on 12th, 13th, and 14th September at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. The World XI side comprises of some stalwarts of the game including Faf du Plessis, Hasim Amla, Morne Morkel, Paul Collingwood, Samuel Badree, Ben Cutting, Tamim Iqbal and much more. In all players from 7 countries will take part in the historical series.
As per reports, it is being learned that the PCB officials will brief the ICC team on the security arrangements in Lahore, especially inside and outside the iconic Gaddafi Stadium which hosted the 1996 World Cup final. The tickets for the eagerly awaited series between World XI and Pakistan has been made available since Friday.
The fares will range from Rs 500 to 8,000 and can be purchased from eticketing.pk. The tickets will be sold on a first come first serve basis confirmed PCB Chairman Najam Sethi. This series will be historic, and the whole cricket crazy Pakistan will be eagerly awaiting the start of that series. More than winning and losing it will be a victory to sports as the resumption of cricket in Pakistan will undoubtedly bolster the mindset of other players to come and visit the country.
Meanwhile in a different incident yesterday, the Australian team bus was attacked in Bangladesh as they were on their way to the team hotel following the end of the opening day’s play of the 2nd Test. Aussie security manager Sean Carroll confirmed that a rock was hurled at their bus, but no players were injured. They had decided to go ahead with the tour despite the mishap.