PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Former West Indies captain and outstanding batsman Brian Lara says he turned down an offer to play for the International XI in two unofficial Twenty20 matches in Pakistan because he was concerned about the message it would send out in light of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) disassociating itself from the matches.
“Yes, an offer was made to me,” Lara, a 43-year-old Trinidadian told the Trinidad Guardian. “Until such time as the governing body in Pakistan [PCB] is able to convince the rest of the world that the best safety mechanisms have been put in place, and the ICC agrees, I would have to say no.”
The T20 matches between the International XI, which includes three former West Indies players, and a Pakistan All Stars XI at the National Stadium will mark the return of international players and cricket, albeit unofficial, to Pakistan for the first time since the terror attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in March 2009. The PCB issued No Objection Certificates to its contracted players to play the games and allowed the use of the venue but maintained the games were unofficial and unsanctioned. The Sindh sports minister, Mohammad Ali Shah, with the support of the Karachi government, arranged all logistic and security arrangements as well as the broadcasting deal. It was reported that the total cost of staging the matches was Rs 3 crore ($314,300 approximately).
The three West Indians in the International XI are batsman Ricardo Powell, fast bowler Jermaine Lawson, both from Jamaica, and Dominica-born former Antigua and Leeward Islands pacer Adam Sanford.
Former West Indies captain Alvin Kallicharran is the coach and manager. Both Kallicharran, a former top Guyana batsman and Powell, who was Lara’s team-mate, said they were happy to be part of this venture.
