The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is all set to host the much-awaited three-match Twenty20 Independence Cup against World XI, as the Board has announced the referees and umpires panel for the World XI’s Pakistan tour.
The first match will kick off from September 12 (Tuesday) at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore between Sarfraz Ahmed-led Pakistan and Faf du Plessis’ ICC World XI.
Pakistan umpire Aleem Dar, who is in the ICC’s Elite Panel of Emirates’ Umpires list alongside Ahsan Raza will be the on-field umpires for the first match in Lahore, as Shozab Raza will be officiating as a Television umpire which would further see Ahmed Shahab as the fourth umpire.
Moreover, all the three games are scheduled to be held under lights, the second match will witness Shozab Raza, and Ahmed Shahab as on-field umpires and Ahsan Raza would be working as a TV umpire in Lahore on September 13.
On September 15, the final match of the series will be played at the same venue which would field out Shozab Raza and Ahsan Raza, as Ahmed Shahab would be officiating the anticipated-clash as TV umpire.
Aleem is scheduled to be the part of an annual workshop in Dubai of the ICC’s Elite Match Officials which is planned for September 13.
It’s pertinent to mention the series opener on-field official for the gentleman’s game Aleem will be attending a workshop that would be hosted at ICC’s Dubai headquarter of the ICC.
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The 49-year-old Aleem, who has been named as the Umpire of the year consecutively in 2009, 2010-11 would discuss the length and breadth owing to the current playing conditions.
The new policy will come to the fore from September 28 onwards, as the match officials would further discuss the different aspects of the game.
It’s pertinent to figure out that five players from South Africa are participating in the series, as three players from Australia are also listed in the 14-member squad which further includes two from Windies.
Earlier, the world cricket governing body ICC has appointed Sir Richie Richardson as the match referee for the competition which would further witness players from seven Test-playing countries.
The former Windies batsman Richardson has already arrived in Pakistan to observe the game between World XI and hosts Pakistan.
All three matches will kick start from 7:30 PM and Richie Richardson would be officiating as the match referee during the series which has been conducted to bring International cricket in Pakistan.
According to the report from Pakistan media, most of the tickets have been sold at the different branches, as the digital portal has been already setup in the form of eticketing.pk.
Squads for Independence Cup 2017:
Pakistan Team: Sarfraz Ahmed (Skipper), Fakhar Zaman, Ahmed Shehzad, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Umar Amin, Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Fahim Ashraf , Hasan Ali, Aamer Yamin, Mohammad Amir, Rumman Raees, Sohail Khan and Usman Khan.
World XI Squad: Faf du Plessis (Skipper), David Miller, Morne Morkel, Tim Paine, Thisara Perera, Imran Tahir, Darren Sammy, Hashim Amla, Grant Elliott, Samuel Badree, George Bailey, Tamim Iqbal, Paul Collingwood and Ben Cutting.