Tamim receives invitation to play for World XI

Bangladesh opening batsman Tamim Iqbal has received an invitation to represent his country in the World XI side, who are scheduled to tour Pakistan next month. Tamim received the invite through the BCB. If everything falls according to place, namely the respective cricket boards granting the No Objection Certificate to the players, then Tamim is all set to play for the World XI team, to be managed by former Zimbabwe cricketer Andy Flower. Sri Lanka have already indicated their willingness to return to Pakistan as part of a series next month, and on Tuesday Punjab's local government promised watertight security for the proposed three-match T20I series against a World XI. Earlier on Monday, Pakistan announced the return of international cricket to its soil, with three separate sides, including the World XI team, scheduled to visit after years of isolation over security concern. A World XI tour kicks off next month, followed by a short visit by Sri Lanka for a T20I in October, then a T20I series against the West Indies a month later.

Joint statement by Cricket West Indies and Pakistan Cricket Board on WI team's tour to Pakistan in November. #Cricket #Pakistan pic.twitter.com/XrDwwy4Mde

— Faizan Lakhani (@faizanlakhani) August 21, 2017

“We are getting positive signals and the doors of international cricket are opening on Pakistan,” said Najam Sethi, the Pakistan Cricket Board chairman, in Lahore. The tours are seen as a big step towards Pakistan once again hosting major international outfits after militants targeted the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore in 2009, killing eight people and wounding at least seven players.

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Also read: Pakistan to host World XI, Sri Lanka and West Indies

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Since the attacks Pakistan have only hosted a limited-over series against Zimbabwe in 2015 while Bangladesh, the West Indies, Sri Lanka and Ireland turned down offers over security fears. Pakistan has also been forced to play their cricket in the UAE for the past eight years including two editions of the Pakistan Super League T20. But security has dramatically improved across Pakistan in the last two years, signalling hope for the slow revival of international sport in the country.

Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Najam Sethi has said Sri Lankan cricket team will tour Pakistan after the World Eleven series next month. pic.twitter.com/vUoh7CnUBu— PTV World (@WorldPTV) August 20, 2017

In March, Pakistan successfully hosted the PSL final in Lahore with English players Dawid Malan and Chris Jordan, West Indies’ Darren Sammy and Marlon Samuels and South Africa’s Morne van Wyk and Zimbabwe’s Sean Ervine competing. The match’s success pushed the PCB to expedite efforts to convince more teams to play in Pakistan. “We will play a full series with Sri Lanka in the UAE after which Sri Lanka will come to Lahore for a T20, so things are shaping up,” said the PCB boss. Sethi said he will announce the names of World XI players in the coming days.