Afridi plans double-wicket tourney in Pakistan

Lahore: Desperate to get international cricket back to Pakistan, former captain Shahid Afridi is thinking of organising a double-wicket competition, involving players from different countries, in the country.

"When I was in Australia playing in the Big Bash tournament, I spoke to number of top players from different countries to get their feedback on whether they would be interested in traveling to Pakistan for a double wicket competition," Afridi said. The flamboyant all-rounder said he had tried to convince the players that why it was so important for international cricket to be played in Pakistan and the response he had got from many players was positive. "That is why now I am seriously planning to organise a double wicket competition with foreign players in a befitting manner but dates and venues will be decided later," he said. "New Zealand`s former captain Daniel Vettori, West Indian Chris Gayle and some Australian players were among those with whom I discussed this proposal and they expressed great interest in it and in playing in Pakistan," Afridi added. No Test playing nation has visited Pakistan since March, 2009 when militants attacked the Sri Lankan team in Lahore killing six Pakistani policemen and a van driver and wounding some of the visiting players. PTI