World XI reach Pak under heavy security
THE WORLD XI TOUR IS SEEN AS A GAME CHANGER BY THE PCB TO BRING BACK INTERNATIONAL
CRICKET TO PAKISTAN
World XI captain Faf du Plessis said that their tour of Pakistan is not just about playing a series but way bigger than that where the crazy fans get a dose of top flight international cricket.
“It is not just about cricket. This short tour is for something bigger. We are just happy that after a long time Pakistani cricket fans can watch international action at home,” Du Plessis said at a press meet.
The World XI squad reached Lahore in the wee hours of Monday from Dubai. The players and officials had a heavy security cover via the Mall road to their hotel where all of their activities are planned for the duration of their stay in Lahore when they play three T20 internationals on September 12th, 13th and 15th.
With six layers of security being set-up, all entry and exit points to the Mall road were closed for normal traffic as hundreds of police commandoes and paramilitary rangers stood alert along the route.
The World XI tour is seen as a game changer by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to bring back international cricket to Pakistan. The importance of the tour was highlighted by Plessis and coach Andy Flower.
“You always try to find things to help you leave your mark — and this seemed like the sort of opportunity to do just that,” Du Plessis said.
“As a cricketer, in a few years’ time, I will be able to look back and say that I played my part in bringing cricket back to Pakistan,” he added.
“At the end of this tour, we went to be part of the celebrations to signal the return of international cricket to Pakistan,” Flower said.