A team led by former Sri Lankan captain Sanath Jayasuriya and managed by former West Indian batsman Alvin Kallicharan has arrived in Karachi on Thursday afternoon. The international XI team will play
two exhibition Twenty20 matches against a Pakistan Stars XI at National
Stadium in Karachi this weekend, ending a near four-year drought of
international cricket in the country.
Several other players including batsman Ricardo Powell,
fast bowlers Jermaine Lawson and Adam Sanford from West Indies, and
Andre Nel and Nantie Hayward from South Africa landed earlier in the
morning. South Africa allrounder Justin Kemp has withdrawn due to his
domestic cricket commitments while two Afghanistan players - Shapoor
Zadran and Mohammad Shahzad - will reach Karachi tomorrow from Kabul.
"I am happy to be part of these matches," Jayasuriya said on his
arrival. "It depends on country to country [whether teams tour Pakistan]
but in my opinion Pakistan is a safe country. The incidents of Lahore
[attacks on the Sri Lanka team in 2009] were not the best thing to have
happened and the suspension of cricket in Pakistan is very unfortunate
because the people love the game here."
The games are unofficial and are arranged by the Sindh sports minister
Dr Mohammad Ali Shah. The PCB has issued No Objection Certificates to
the contracted players due to participate and has allowed the use of the
National Stadium, but all the logistic arrangements, broadcasting deals
and security arrangements were made by Shah with the support of the
local government in Karachi.
Since the terror attack on the Sri Lanka team bus during a Test match in
Lahore in March 2009, Pakistan have been forced to hold its
international matches away from home and also lost hosting rights of the
2009 Champions Trophy and 2011 World Cup. A move to stage a tournament
with international faces might prove a small stepping stone for the
revival of international cricket in the country.
Kallicharan was enthusiastic about cricket returning to Pakistan. "I
came here way back in 1972 to raise funds for flood victims and this
time it's another noble cause: promotion of cricket in Pakistan," he
said. "I think they [other countries] will have to have a look. With the
success of these matches a good message will go out. Pakistan is a part
of world cricket and we are here to show that Pakistan is a place to
play cricket."
The plan isn't entirely sanctioned by the PCB and the ICC ,and the
organiser was forced to change the name of the teams to remove any
association with the two boards as the matches hold no official status.
Powell, who has played 109 ODIs, hoped the series would change
perceptions about Pakistan. "Its feel good [to be here in Pakistan]," he
said. "Its a great opportunity for the players to come here and really
exhibit their skills, I think its about time that world cricket returns
to Pakistan.
"Twenty20 is the most exciting form of the game that you have right now
and the teams are here to really enjoy themselves. Lots of good players
are here, lots of guys from South Africa as well and lots of other
players from other parts of the world, and I'm sure it will be a great
weekend and we will see some good cricket."
The teams are staying at the Sheraton hotel, with extensive security of
around 5000 policemen, claimed the provisional sports minister. The team
will have a practice session on Friday at Karachi Gymkhana Ground.
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