Cricket teams from Afghanistan and Hong Kong have agreed to appear in a T20 domestic cricket league event in Pakistan as a tentative step towards reviving international cricket in the country.
Pakistan has not hosted any international cricket since militants attacked the Sri Lankan team in Lahore in March 2009. The attacks killed eight people, and wounded seven Sri Lankan players and their assistant coach, effectively ending any chance of Pakistan staging international cricket in the foreseeable future. Since then, Pakistan have played their home series at neutral venues such as England and the United Arab Emirates. Last week they completed a two-Test series against Australia in England.
Sindh Sports Minister told media that Afghanistan and Hong Kong had agreed to send their teams for a tournament to mark the holy Muslim month of Ramadan. The Afghan team will include nine players from the squad which participated in the third edition of the World Twenty20 held in the West Indies in April and May 2010.
The 16-team T20 tournament will be held in Pakistan from August 12 to September 6 with a total 117,000 USD prize money on offer. Tournaments in Ramadan attract large crowds in Pakistan where matches are mostly held in the evening under floodlights after the Maghrib prayers. All the participating international players will be provided by excellent security.
