Pakistan is gearing up for the resumption of international cricket in the embattled country by concurrently hosting the World XI for the three-match Twenty20 series in Lahore.
The Cricket Australia Chief Executive Officer (CEO) James Sutherland revealed there are no solid plans in ‘short term’ process taking place to tour Pakistan shortly.
“I don’t see in the short term there are any plans for us to play in Pakistan,” Sutherland was quoted as saying by AFP while briefing media back home.
Interestingly, in the 14-member squad of the World XI-led by South African skipper Faf du Plessis, the three players from Australia are participating in major tour including wicket-keeper batsman, all-rounder Ben Cutting and former Australian skipper George Bailey.
After Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had spent staggering multi-crore to convince the players from seven nation including logistics, Sutherland believes considering to visit Pakistan will take some time although first two matches of the T20Is were successfully conducted in Lahore amid presidential-level security.
Pertinently, the World Series is tied at one each, as the decider of the competition is scheduled at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on September 15 (Friday).
While talking to the media in Sydney, Sutherland, however, hailed the efforts of the International Cricket Council (ICC) and PCB, as the key series is seen as the watershed moment for the country while aiming to host the regular fixtures in the foreseeable future.
“There’s a whole lot of steps in that process,” Sutherland remarked.
As Australian side is highly unlikely to travel Pakistan, the Asian team is scheduled to face Sri Lanka and West Indies in their next scheduled fixtures in the United Arab Emirates, as some of the matches could be expected in Pakistan which is subjected to the smooth conclusion of World XI tour.
Doubtful about the 2018 calendar which is scheduled in November, Sutherland believes much needs to be done during the programme. Adamant in approach, Sutherland had played a pivotal role for Cricket Australia, as the Australian side had lasted visited Pakistan in 1998 when the visitors clinched the three-match Test series by 1-0.
Pertinently, after the gruesome attack on the Sri Lankan Team Bus in Lahore in 2009 which injured at least six Lions’ players, Pakistan went on to host the limited-overs series against Zimbabwe in 2015, following the five-year drought of international fixtures in the county.
In March 2017, Gaddafi Stadium again hosted the grand finale of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) between defending champions Peshawar Zalmi-led by Windies all-rounder Darren Sammy and Quetta Gladiators which is playing under the leadership of current Pakistan skipper Sarfraz Ahmed.
Earlier, ICC has vowed to provide the complete support to Pakistan owing to the stepping stone of international cricket as a goodwill gesture which further saw ICC chief executive Dave Richardson reiterating it was important to witness top-flight cricket coming to Pakistan.