ALMOST WENT UP IN SMOKE

In mid-February, less than a month before the final, a suicide attack outside Lahore’s provincial assembly killed 13.

“There was doom and gloom over here. The franchises came to me and said nothing doing,” Sethi recalled.

A series of late night phone calls and meetings with players and franchise owners ensued. Despite assurances, two days before the match, four players pulled out, leaving the board 48 hours to find replacements.

After the final, Sethi went to work on bringing an international World XI to Pakistan with the support of the ICC.

An international security company hired by cricket’s world governing body gave Pakistan the green light.

Then came the work of assembling a high-profile team for the three-match series. Once the players were finalised, administrators and fans were thrilled to welcome a star-studded World XI team led by South Africa captain Faf du Plessis.

Next up was Sri Lanka, whose players were reluctant to tour Pakistan after the events of 2009.

On a trip to Colombo, Sethi talked about how Pakistan had always toured Sri Lanka even during the civil war, which ended in 2009, when other countries refused to visit.

“I told them we need you now, when you needed us we were there for you,” he said.

With Sri Lanka’s visit confirmed, Sethi is confident that international cricket in Pakistan will soon be fully restored.

West Indies have committed to playing a three-match series but the dates are still undecided.

“I have two other countries lined up who are ready to come,” Sethi said. “By the end of 2020 I think every cricket country would have come and played in Pakistan.”