Pakistan's plan to host internationals again

Pakistan cricket officials are confident of hosting a team of international players in September as part of efforts to revive home fixtures following the deadly militant attack in 2009.

After the final of the Pakistan Super League was held in Lahore without incident last weekend, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shaharyar Khan said it has paved the way for the return of international matches.

"I have received a letter from Giles Clarke, the head of a (International Cricket Council) task force on Pakistan, who has praised the successful staging of PSL final and has promised to bring a World XI in September," Shaharyar told AFP.

The Guardian had earlier quoted Clarke, who is also the president of the England and Wales Cricket Board, as saying: "The terrorists cannot win and cricket must not give up on Pakistan."

"The desire is to give the cricket-starved Pakistani supporters the chance to see some of the world’s finest players in live action," Clarke said.

"The world of cricket needs to help Pakistan, who cannot continue to play their home fixtures overseas.

"The youth need inspiring, and the national teams need far more cricket played in familiar terrain."

It comes as Pakistan's World Cup-winning captain Imran Khan caused social media outrage at home for labelling the international players who took part in the PSL final as "third-class".

Sunday's final, featuring several overseas players, was held amid security that resembled a military operation, involving more than 8,000 heavily-armed police and paramilitaries.

Nine foreign players, including West Indies stars Darren Sammy and Marlon Samuels, travelled to Lahore for the final, however several international players withdrew from the match in Lahore due to security fears.

A leaked video of Khan criticising the standard of the international players in Lahore quickly went viral online, where many rushed to defend the foreign stars

"Sammy was captain but he is not a big player," Imran later said on the local TV network Geo News.

"Had Chris Gayle come, had Kevin Pietersen come, I would have said they were big international stars."

No major international team has toured Pakistan since Islamist militants attacked a bus carrying Sri Lankan cricketers in 2009, killing eight people and wounding nine including six visiting cricketers.

Visits by minnows Afghanistan and Zimbabwe did little to calm the nerves of bigger opponents.

Shaharyar added: "Clarke had come to Pakistan in January this year and was impressed with the security arrangements which we showed him for future matches."

It's planned that the World XI would play four Twenty20 matches against a Pakistan XI on September 22, 23, 28 and 29.

The visiting team could feature the likes of Sammy and fellow West Indian Samuels as well as England's Dawid Malan and Chris Jordan.

Sammy had earlier told AFP he had felt safe playing in Pakistan.

"I had my doubts and fears before coming to Lahore and when I spoke to my mother she said 'Go, boy, and play and I will be on my knees praying for you', and my wife said the same thing," he said.

"I am glad that I came for a cause and it was as safe as playing in St Lucia or India or anywhere in the world. Pakistan fans deserve to see their players playing, which they have not done for a while."

The PCB is also hoping Bangladesh and Sri Lanka - whose security delegates visited Lahore for PSL final - will consider touring Pakistan later this year.