Pakistan to mark return of Cricket to the country in September

Islamabad: Pakistan is all geared up to welcome international-level Cricket back to the country in September this year, with two back to back series with Sri Lanka and West Indies.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday officially confirmed that Sri Lanka will be touring their country in September, followed by West Indies in November.

The announcement was made after declaring that a World Xi side, coached by Zimbabwean great Andy Flower, would be touring Lahore for three Twnety20 Internationals (T20Is) in October.

"Cricket West Indies and Pakistan Cricket Board are advancing discussions that will see the West Indies team play the T20 matches with Pakistan in Lahore in late November," said a statement released by the PCB.

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"My mission statement is to bring back international Cricket to Pakistan and hopefully we will be able to announce the full World XI side in next two to three days," PCB chairman Najam Sethi said.

It may be recalled that Pakistan has been deprived of international Cricket ever since the 2009 terrorist attack on Sri Lankan Cricket team bus in Lahore. Zimbabwe, however, visited Pakistan two years back but no Test playing nation has toured the country during past eight years.

"It was a very difficult task convincing the Sri Lankan board to send their team to Lahore once again but they have shown great courage in accepting our request and hopefully if security arrangements are confirmed they will come and play T20 matches in October," said the PCB chairman.

"We will try to organise some matches of the Pakistan Super League in Karachi early next year so that we can start convincing teams to also play at other venues apart from Lahore," he added.