ICC World XI to tour Pakistan

[Sachinism]

ECB chairman Giles Clarke has called for Pakistan's return as a host of international matches and said an ICC World XI would tour the country "in due course" since it is still not possible for national teams to visit. Pakistan has not hosted international cricket since the March 2009 terrorist attack on the Sri Lanka team. "World cricket must keep giving Pakistan cricket the chance to fund itself and move forward, to do something for the spectator in Pakistan," Clarke wrote in the September issue of The Wisden Cricketer magazine. The security challenges are enormous but we cannot allow the terrorists to win. They must lose by an innings - repeatedly. "So world cricket must go back and play in Pakistan. I do not think it will be possible for individual national teams to tour yet. But with determination and courage an ICC World XI in due course will go and play against Pakistan in her great cities and there will be a marvellous atmosphere." He said the cricketing world could not afford to forsake a country with such fervent fans and a strong history in the game. "Cricket cannot abandon a nation with such a magnificent history in the game, such wonderful players and such enthusiastic and knowledgeable supporters. It will be an historic moment when international cricket resumes in Pakistan and the first ICC team walks out." Clarke, who is also chairman of the ICC's Pakistan Task Team, revealed that the inability to host international cricket has resulted in the PCB's income falling from £27 million to £10 million, "a brutal impact that few enterprises could survive; terrorism does not care about its human consequences" he said. The ECB plans to host more neutral matches featuring Pakistan to help the PCB with its finances. "The ECB intends to assist in staging more Pakistan games here [England] in 2011 and 2012," Clarke said. "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." http://www.cricinfo.com/pakistan/content/current/story/472857.html

[EnterTheVoid]

Why should any cricketer risk their life to tour that terrorist shyte hole over a misguided cricket ideology ? So what if they don't host any cricket, why should anyone care.

[saneindian]

LOL ECB trying to ensure PCB keeps organising its "HOME" matches in England. if he is so concerned why doesn't ECB send a team of 11 ex players to Pakistan for a good will series? or how about an Eng A tour or an Eng u-19 series?

[Roshanrocks]

ok let a aussie/english/ combined XI tour there first.

[SachinTheGr8st]

ECB have double standards when England refused to tour Zimbabwe for political reasons no one said a word from the Board but they want India& Pakistan to resume cricketing ties despite Mumbai terror attacks by Pakistanis.

[King]

I'd suggest England 'A' would be a good start. England can set the trend by sending over their 'A' team and see if that works. BTW this is a non-starter. You reckon the likes of Tendulkar, Ponting, Steyn et al will be willing to go? Worse, would Sangakkara or Jayawardene or Samaraweera go?

[b555]

no indians in the squad please

[Sid]

no indians in the squad please

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[Sachinism]

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[Zap_Brannigan]

All talk.Lets see Clarke enter the country first, then KP and Flintoff before they ask others to go there.

[Zap_Brannigan]

Clarke is feeling lonely without his usual buddies ACB. Now that BCCI,SA and ACB have formed an alliance with SLCB,WICB and NZCB in somesort of arrangement with these boards, Pak is the lone board rejected by the 3 big boards. Clarke has no other choice but to associate itself with PCB. It will bite him in the ass just like Stanford did.

[Pak_Forever]

Don't want any team to tour as long as that idiot Ijazz Butt is ruling PCB. Any decent man leading PCB would understand the meaning of "presidential security" but this donkey doesn't understand jack. Its a nice gesture from Clarke, hopefully soon once situation improves then teams will start touring. Though I would like Pakistan to play Test cricket in England for eternity. Regardless of the result, Test cricket in England is just awesome to watch. Don't like torture of sub-continent pitches for over 4-5 days.

[Duckworth&Lewis]

Unfortunately, it's not a good idea. Those people are absolute maniacs. :scare: