12th September 2017 is bound to go down as a historic date from the context of the cricketing fraternity. With all Test playing nations and the ICC backing the return of the game in Pakistan, an ICC appointed World XI side is set to commence a three match T20I series against the hosts in Lahore. For a nation that has missed out on home cricket for years now, this series will be like a shower of rain in the middle of a desert.
The World XI outfit, led by South Africa’s captain, Faf du Plessis, has an array of superstars and renowned players. The ultimate aim of the three match series is to announce the resumption of cricket in the nation ravaged by political tensions for some time now.
Pakistan however, dealt a blow recently, when their ace pacer Mohammad Amir underwent fitness issues. Currently playing the county in the UK for Essex, Amir was recently ruled out of a game, owing to him failing a fitness Test. As a result, his participation in the three match series now remains critical.
However, former England captain and a member of the World XI team, Paul Collingwood was quite upbeat about the series. In his article for icccricket.com, Collingwood praised the move to resume cricket in the nation.
“There are lots of reasons why I’m looking forward to playing in the World XI T20 tour of Lahore. Hopefully this can be a significant step in helping Pakistan host international fixtures again after eight years of playing in other countries, including their home series in the United Arab Emirates and EnglandThe tour has got the backing and support of all the Test playing nations, the professional players’ unions as well as the International Cricket Council, though the series is being considered as a bilateral series with the Pakistan Cricket Board as its host,” Collingwood wrote.