5 things to look forward to in the World XI series
This will be the World XI's Twenty20 debut, and Pakistan will forever be linked with that unique achievement. Photo: AP
By Sohaib Ahmed
With the World XI and our very own champions - the ‘Green Shirts’ all set for the greatest cricketing event of the year, Pakistanis just can’t wait to witness history in the making.
As the ‘cornered tigers’, who proved to be the best by making it to the top of ICC Champions Trophy 2017, will play the finest from all around the cricketing globe in the Independence Cup 2017, scheduled to be held on September 12 in Lahore, here is a list of 5 things to look forward to in the upcoming T20 series.
1. A ‘World XI’
Unlike other sports, which have ‘All Star’ games every year, a cricket team full of the world s best players doesn’t get put together very often. The last time we saw a World XI play was 12 years ago, in 2005. This will be the World XI s Twenty20 debut, and Pakistan will forever be linked with that unique achievement.
World XI team members arrive in Lahore ahead of the series. Photo: PCB
2. The return of Paul Collingwood
The English all-rounder will be making his return to international cricket after six years at the age of 41. Collingwood is an MBE (Most Excellent Order of the British Empire – a British order of chivalry) winner and he is the only player in the ODIs history to take 6 wickets in a match (6/31), while scoring a century (112*) against Bangladesh in 2005.
Paul Collingwood. Photo: ICC
3. The return of Imran Tahir... sort of
The South African leg spinner has had a love-hate relationship with Pakistan, but most recently it has all been love. Tahir actually made his domestic debut in the same match as Saeed Ajmal, and then went on to play for the Pakistan under-19s and the Pakistan A team before his switch to South Africa. He is currently ranked #2 in the world in both ODIs and T20s, and will be playing his first international match in the city of his birth.
Imran Tahir. Photo: ICC
4. The celebrities
A match like this is going to attract Pakistan s best. When Zimbabwe toured for a short series in 2015, all the glitz and glamour of Pakistan s celebrities was on show with Annie Khalid, Abrar ul Haq, Ali Zafar and many others out in full force. So much more is expected from the greatest cricketing event of the year.
Celebrities during the Pakistan vs Zimbabwe T20 cricket match at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore. Photo: Ali Zafar’s Twitter
5. The return of the champions
The Champions Trophy win for Pakistan in June was one of its greatest sporting achievements ever. But due to scheduling conflicts and politics, there was a chance we wouldn t see the team in action again until January. Die-hard fans who were on such a high during the Champions Trophy have been struggling to cope during this break, and to see our champions back again in action – and that too in the Gaddafi Stadium, will certainly be a delight for the whole country.
Members of the Pakistan Cricket Team celebrate after thrashing India in Champions Trophy 2017’s final. Photo: ICC
