The Gaddafi Stadium is getting ready for the big series. The World XI tour will consist of three T20 matches between World XI and Pakistan. Furthermore, Pakistan Cricket Board has already unveiled the logo for the Independence Cup 2017. Law enforcement agencies of the country have made elaborate security arrangements to ensure safe organizing of the Independence Cup 2017.
Pakistan Cricket Team Players VS World XI Tour Team
The Pakistan Cricket Team has already started training at the National Cricket Academy. Till Thursday, 13 players had reported for the training camp.
The pacer from Pakistan Mohammad Amir will join the camp later. He is with his wife in England, and they are expecting their first child.
Similarly, Shadab Khan will join later as he is currently busy playing for the Caribbean Premier League.
Pakistan Cricket Team’s Head Coach, Mickey Arthur is already at the training camp to see the boys preparing for the big series.
World XI Squad
Faf du Plessis (captain), Samuel Badree, ), Hashim Amla, Paul Collingwood, Ben Cutting, Grant Elliott, George Bailey, Tamim Iqbal, Morné Morkel, Tim Paine (wk), David Miller, Thisara Perera, Imran Tahir, Darren Sammy
Players of Pakistan Team (To Be Finalized)
Sarfraz Ahmed (c, wk), Ahmed Shehzad, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Umar Amin, Mohammad Nawaz, Fahim Ashraf, Imad Wasim, Shadab KhanHasan Ali, Aamer Yamin, Mohammad Amir, Rumman Raees, Usman Khan, Sohail Khan
Independence Cup 2017 – Match Schedule
Here is the schedule for the Independence Cup 2017 between Pakistan and World XI.
Match Officials for the World XI Tour
PCB has already made public the names of the officials to oversee proceedings of the upcoming Independence Cup 2017.
Furthermore, Aleem Dar and Ahsan Raza will officiate the first match. Shozab Raza will be the third umpire for this game.
Ahmed Shahab and Shozab Raza will officiate the second match. Shozab Raza will also act as match referee along with Ahsan Raza.
Ahsan Raza and Shozab Raza will umpire the third match. Ahmed Shahab will act as the third umpire for the game.
Furthermore, the West Indies great, Ritchie Richardson is appointed as the match referee for the three games of Independence Cup 2017. It is the first time since 2009 that an ICC official is coming to Pakistan to officiate an international cricketing event.
World XI Tour Brings New Hope for Return of International Cricket
Cricket fans, as well as players, are hopeful that this tournament will revive international cricket in the country. However, after organizing of the PSL 2 final, this is a big cricket series for the country.
Former Pakistani Team Captain Ramiz Raja stated that he is hopeful the Independence Cup 2017 will help pave the way for regularly organizing international cricket in the country. Furthermore, he appreciated the foreign players for deciding to take part in the tournament.
Najam Sethi on Independence Cup 2017
Najam Sethi, the PCB Chairman, stated that the board had to overcome a lot of obstacles to organize this event. Furthermore, he added that PCB also worked with cricket boards of other countries to solve any underlying issues faced by the foreign players.
On the question of organizing matches in Karachi, he said that PCB first needs to improve arrangements and enhance security arrangements to consider hosting international cricketing events there.
