London, Aug 17 : The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is planning to send an invitational World XI to play in Pakistan to end the country’s sporting isolation following a terror attack on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore last year.
ECB Chairman Giles Clarke, who is also ICC’s Pakistan Task Team chief, has said that the cricket community “must keep giving Pakistan cricket the chance to fund itself and move forward”.
“Cricket cannot abandon a nation with such a magnificent history in the game, such wonderful players and such enthusiastic and knowledgeable supporters,” The Dawn quoted Clarke, as having written in an article for The Wisden Cricketer magazine.
“It will be an historic moment when international cricket resumes in Pakistan and the first ICC team walks out,” he added.
Counting the costs of no international cricket in Pakistan, Clarke said that the losses are “a brutal impact that few enterprises could survive”.
The ECB chief further said that his board plans on hosting more international matches and series for Pakistan in the next few years.
“The atmosphere, the passionate support and, of course, the tremendous cricket played by the Pakistan team made it a compelling experience. The PCB’s economic needs make it imperative,” Clarke said.
No dates for the tour were revealed in a release issued by the magazine.
Leading cricket teams have refused to visit Pakistan following the 2009 attack on the team in Lahore, which killed eight people, as well as injuring seven Sri Lankan players and their assistant coach.
The security situation has forced Pakistan to hold its ''home'' series against Australia and England in England.
In the last two years, Pakistan ''home'' games have also been staged in the United Arab Emirates and New Zealand.
Pakistan, which was due to co-host the 2011 World Cup, was also stripped of its matches following the attack on the Sri Lankan team.
Pakistan was supposed to hold 14 matches, including one semi-final. Eight of Pakistan''s matches have been awarded to India, four to Sri Lanka and two to Bangladesh. (ANI)
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