PCB’s go-ahead for hosting World XI matches at Karachi

The National Stadium, Karachi, which has not hosted an international match for over three years, is expected to host one later this month with matches featuring renowned players of the cricketing world.

Karachi: The National Stadium, Karachi (NSK), which has not hosted an international match for over three years, is expected to host one later this month with matches featuring renowned players of the cricketing world.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), which showed its reluctance in assisting the organisers of the matches in May, has now agreed to lend a helping hand. Sindh Sports Minister Mohammad Ali Shah, in association with a U.S.-based company Xtreme Sports, had planned matches for May 25 and 26. But the board initially refused to be a part of the plan, citing a tight schedule of the team and lack of time to make appropriate arrangements, forcing the postponement. However, PCB Chairman Zaka Ashraf, after holding a discussion, has now given a thumbs-up to Shah to stage the matches. “Now, only the dates are to be finalised. Shah is in London for treatment and he is scheduled to meet the chairman early next week. There are two tentative plans for the World XI tour – from July 18 to 20, or after Ramazan. We’re more interested in staging the matches after Ramazan because of the tradition of praying from night to the break of dawn,” an organiser told a newspaper. The official added that the NSK was most likely to stage the two matches. “The board was also interested in Lahore, but its tiff with the Punjab government, has affected the plan,” he said. The organisers have roped in players, including former Sri Lanka captain Sanath Jayasuriya, Justin Kemp, Charl Langeveldt, Paul Adams, Andre Nel, Richard Levi and Jerome Taylor for the World XI team. ANI