Pakistan v World XI, 3xT20s, Lahore, 12-15 September, 2017

by OP Tipping Wed 13 Sep 2017, 07:26

Pakistan won the first of three T20 matches against a World XI, at Lahore. The series is called The Independence Cup.

Babar Azam made 86 off 52, which was the key component in the win.

The World XI consisted of Tamim Iqbal, HM Amla, TD Paine (w), F du Plessis (c), DA Miller, GD Elliott, NLTC Perera, DJG Sammy, BCJ Cutting, M Morkel, and Imran Tahir.

by OP Tipping Wed 13 Sep 2017, 09:10

Quite a mixed bag in the World squad. Cutting, Paine are not exactly in the same league as du Plessis or Morkel.

In addition to the above eleven, the squad includes George Bailey, Samuel Badree and Paul Collingwood.

All three matches will be played in Lahore.

I'm a little surprised that these matches will count as full internationals.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/sep/11/faf-du-plessis-me-and-players-playing-for-something-bigger-than-us-world-xi-pakistan

Security was the main hurdle to overcome. Lahore remains volatile, such that just last month a bomb in the eastern part of the city claimed 26 lives. Accordingly the matches at the Gaddafi Stadium, starting on Tuesday, are being played amid a vast military presence, with more than 1,000 commandos protecting the hotel alone.

Tickets are bought in local banks and then redeemed at the stadium using biometric testing to confirm identities, while roads will be closed. The number of security personnel has been reported as more than 10,000 – around a third of supporters expected for each of the sellout matches.

A £75,000-a-man tour fee is being paid to the World XI players – Du Plessis believes the figure was needed to attract the high-quality talent on show – and now they must try to put aside the whirring helicopters and the snipers on the roof and concentrate on cricket at hand in matches that have full international status, thus making them a comeback of sorts for the retired Collingwood.

“You’ve just got to try to somehow put that to the back of your mind and watch the ball,” Du Plessis says. “Every question about security has been answered. I only found out today the games are official but even if they weren’t, it wouldn’t affect why we are here.”

by taipan Wed 13 Sep 2017, 09:32

Shouldn't have international status. That is a joke.

by OP Tipping Wed 13 Sep 2017, 11:15

Mmm. I didn't much like the World XI in test and ODI cricket in 2005, even thought that really was the elite of non-Australian players (or, in the case of one make, non-Asian players).

But this really is seriously not the elite of non-Pakistan players.