Andy Flower to coach World XI in Lahore with players being offered £75,000 plus to play

[Muhammad10]

Former England coach Andy Flower is in line to coach a World XI in Lahore next month with players being offered more than £75,000 to play in the series which the International Cricket Council hopes will revive cricket in Pakistan eight years on from the terrorist attack on the Sri Lanka team.

Flower, who has been technical director at England & Wales Cricket Board since standing down as England coach in 2015, is expected to coach and select an ICC squad that will play three Twenty20 internationals at the Gadaffi Stadium in Lahore at the end of September.

A security report will be delivered this week by the Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations which will go a long way to persuading players whether it is safe to go. Telegraph Sport understands they have been offered $100,00 US dollars to play three matches over six days plus a pre-series training camp in Dubai.

The Fica report has been compiled by the England & Wales Cricket Board’s security officer Reg Dickason, who visited Pakistan last month to review security plans. It was Dickason’s report last year that cleared the way for England to tour Bangladesh.

Earlier this year Fica warned players not to travel to Pakistan but the hosting of the Pakistan Super League final in Lahore in March, which passed without incident, strengthened the ICC’s resolve to organise the three World XI games in September. Giles Clarke, the president of the ECB, has been a driving force behind the series.

The matches are seen as an important step towards Pakistan once again hosting international cricket after the terrorist attacks on the Sri Lankan team bus in Karachi in 2009.

Pakistan has only hosted a Twenty20 series against Zimbabwe since then as international teams refuse to tour the country due to security fears.

Pakistan have played their cricket in the UAE for the past eight years including the Pakistan Super League Twenty20 competition. But earlier this year the final of the PSL was played in Pakistan for the first time with England players - Dawid Malan and Chris Jordan - travelling to Lahore to play in the game.

But Luke Wright, Kevin Pietersen and Tymal Mills did not travel to Lahore for the final due to security fears. Overseas players were offered up to £50,000 plus a guaranteed contract in next year’s PSL to play in the final.

Flower coaches the Peshawar franchise in the PSL and remains an important part of the England set up coaching the Lions team and overseeing the development of young batsmen.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/cricket/...h-world-xi-lahore-players-offered-75000-plus/

 

[Justcrazy]

Huge amount of money involved !

 

[Boi]

Pointless waste of money.

 

[Sherlock]

That boils my blood. People are dying in Pakistan, daily. The government has stolen money from it's people for years - and the PCB have been doing the same for a decade-plus.

Why even bother?

The security level in Pakistan won't magically evaporate. The terrorists won't put their weapons down, and their suicide vests in the bins across Pakistan just because the PCB have decided to pay ridiculous amounts of dosh to players/coaches and staff. They then have to pay the logistical fees + more money for the security.

Then you have these idiots involved with our board who spend money [on holidays] abroad with the squad and staff where they're not needed, and other spendage that is being absolutely wasted on material and nonsensical stuff.

I rather they spent more time on the investment of the game [if they had to burn through the paper] be it women's cricket, the A-side and the players coming through the system.

If you want to "waste" money - do it within the game and do it so your kids look back in 10-20 years and say the PCB did a good thing there.

This isn't the best time to get the game back in Pakistan just yet. Sports in a country is often the mirror image of the nation itself. The people of that nation aren't safe themselves.

So let's find something more substantial than putting our fingers & toes in multiple leaked holes of the nation and hoping someone will come along and replace the aforementioned digits with more fingers and more toes.


/and frustration.

 

[BDwarriors]

no country takes world xi seriously. pcb should stop giving themselves false hope. first 1 billion cause of case against india and now this....

 

[hafeezrocks]

Is this the taxpayers money?

 

[Executioner]

This is stupid. A world XI tour will do nothing in the long run.

The real reason teams aren't touring Pakistan regularly is that Pakistan is not safe just yet and the problem cannot be solved by any individual entity alone.

Better you use the money to develop cricket in Pakistan. A lot of domestic cricketers in Pakistan aren't getting paid enough.

PCB's obsession with bringing cricket back to Pakistan needs to stop. Be patient, take small steps.

 

[Railu Katta]

Complete waste of money.

 

[ExpressPacer]

I have no words.. Absolutely despicable. People in Pakistan are dying every single day and in millions simply because of poverty and we are wasting money like this..

 

[saeed5646]

it is huge amount but i hope ICC will support PCB financially other wise it is disastrous

if it happen it will open the doors for PSL 3 to host some matches in Pakistan which will provide pcb huge revenue

 

[MMHS]

it is huge amount but i hope ICC will support PCB financially other wise it is disastrous

if it happen it will open the doors for PSL 3 to host some matches in Pakistan which will provide pcb huge revenue

ICC won't support any board for such waste of money. There are several other ways to ask support from ICC - notably technical assistance on domestic wickets or logistical assistance to host PAK matches in some other countries along with UAE.

This is day light robbery with PCB's resources - I am sure from the latest financial gain for last few months cricket (starting from May last year, since when PAK has been playing almost non stop), PCB is now the richest in terms of reserves in their history - PCB's accountant might need some avenues to a "adjust" some "expense" items.

 

[Asim_khan]

Absolute madness, pay some of that money into sorting out the security situation

 

[ahmedwaqas92]

Lol supporters from a nobody cricketing nation burning here lol

It's our money and we'll spend it on whichever way we like. First do something of substance in international cricket and then talk to us regarding policies and stuff.

Our A team and that 'pathetic system' helped us win a global ICC trophy just a month ago.

 

[saeed5646]

ICC won't support any board for such waste of money. There are several other ways to ask support from ICC - notably technical assistance on domestic wickets or logistical assistance to host PAK matches in some other countries along with UAE.

This is day light robbery with PCB's resources - I am sure from the latest financial gain for last few months cricket (starting from May last year, since when PAK has been playing almost non stop), PCB is now the richest in terms of reserves in their history - PCB's accountant might need some avenues to a "adjust" some "expense" items.

if you are telling the truth this is sad state of affairs

 

[MMHS]

if you are telling the truth this is sad state of affairs

ICC sent Atkinson & his team to BD for few months - to train our groundsmen at least twice, when BD was in between a Test team & Associate, just one example. If FIFA can support war affected Africa, Middle East & East Europe to host their football matches in neutral countries, ICC can definitely help PCB to calk out an acceptable financial model to host cricket matches in countries, where PCB won't be bullied by those arrogant Arabs & robbed by the UAE costing. PCB won't ask that, because that takes their solo control on the financials from selling PAK cricket, neither it's comfortable for those farmers enjoying Groundsmen status for doing basic staffs, which our school gatekeeper Mamu used to do before cricket matches at school grounds - watering & rolling, for few B&H sticks & a pack of chicken biriyani.

 

[Saj]

Embarassing that so much money has to be thrown at players to go to Pakistan.

 

[Rana]

I would rather use that money to compensate fans to travel to Pakistan to matches in UAE. The main thing is, we need packed houses for our home games wherever they are played. That same amount of money would be better spent on better coaching and training facilities. That same amount of money would be better spent on Kit quality and brand image, luring more money and business propositions and brand requirement on the media front. That will automatically increase the value of the PCB image and hence making them giants in the eyes of the ICC.

The biggest problem for PCB isnt the fact that they cannot host games at home, its biggest Problem as mentioned by Ehsan Mani is the fact that PCB has lost its voice/value in the eyes of the ICC.

 

[On_the_up]

Complete waste of time. Much rather spend this money on grass roots and infrastructure etc.

Having fort knox type security (PSL final) or paying ridiculous money to players to play is not going to get the international teams flooding back. If anything, it reinforces the perception of Pak being a dangerous place to tour.

Until the terrorist threat really does reduce and just as importantly the perception changes, we won't be seeing international matches regularly. Unfortunately it will take more time for that.

 

[Markhor]

I agree with [MENTION=13916]On_the_up[/MENTION] - even if this series go ahead its unlikely to lead to a revival of international tours. After the 2015 Zimbabwe series, PCB spoke of how it was an ice breaker yet not one international side has toured since. Even that series didn't pass without incident. They also said the same after the PSL final.

Lahore has seen three major terror attacks in the last 18 months. Current PML-N government's resources are all channeled into maintaining its survival after recent events. This is not the time for a PCB vanity project.

The perception of a nation's security is created by how safe the people are in everyday life. Not through the staging of a couple of matches when the eyes of the world are watching and the authorities have no choice but to show they're doing their jobs !

Its not about being pessimistic, I'm sick of UAE and would love to see us play again in front of a packed NSK, Pindi Stadium or Gaddafi Stadium like the old days. But one has to be REALISTIC.

 

[Bewal Express]

Better off spending the money on improving pitches and better quality cricket balls.

 

[Shutdown Corner]

Lol supporters from a nobody cricketing nation burning here lol

It's our money and we'll spend it on whichever way we like. First do something of substance in international cricket and then talk to us regarding policies and stuff.

Hey man, we've won actual ODI series against teams like India and South Africa.

 

[ahmedwaqas92]

Hey man, we've won actual ODI series against teams like India and South Africa.

Hey man, we've actually won ODI series against the said teams on their respective home turfs.......

As I said do something of substance in international cricket first and then come and talk bro......

 

[Abdullah719]

FICA awaits security report on World XI’s Lahore tour

The Federation of International Cricketers Association (FICA) is waiting for a report from security experts before it responds officially to the planned tour of the World Eleven to Lahore next month.

The security report by Reg Dickason who works with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) will decide whether FICA support the World Eleven tour.

“Dickason has been to Lahore last month to study the ground realities there and get a briefing on the security arrangements for the World Eleven tour. He will give his report this week to FICA,” a PCB source aware of the developments told PTI.

Former Zimbabwean Test batsman Andy Flower is working on behalf of the PCB and ICC to put together the World Eleven team.

The source confirmed that top players are being offered sums between USD 75 and 100,000 for the three T20 matches in Lahore between September 11 and 19 and a pre-tour camp in Dubai.

“The ICC, ECB and some member boards are supportive of the tour but the Pakistan board (PCB) also has to give the final go-ahead for the security arrangements for the tour,” he said.

He said PCB top officials have started a series of meetings with the Punjab government and interior ministry to get security clearance for the tour.

Flower, who remained head coach of England until 2015 and also works as Technical Director with the ECB, has been tasked with coaching and managing the World Eleven side.

“The PCB is keen to have the three matches in Lahore as they would be high profile and give the board a strong platform to convince other teams to tour Pakistan coupled with the successful hosting of the Pakistan Super League final earlier this year in Lahore,” the source said.

The source said when the PSL final was held Dickason and other security experts had come to Lahore to inspect the security arrangements for themselves.

“The PCB has been cooperating fully with the security experts so that FICA can also be convinced about players’ safety in Lahore and international cricket should be resumed in Pakistan,” he said.

The PCB has said it intends to hold atleast eight matches of the third edition of the PSL in Karachi and Lahore including the final and sources say they have offered to pay the foreign signings an extra USD 10,000 to 15,000 in their agreement clauses if they agree to play in the two venues.

http://indianexpress.com/article/sp...rity-report-on-world-xis-lahore-tour-4786096/

 

[Abdullah719]

Darren Sammy may be approached for World XI captaincy in Pakistan

West Indies’ Darren Sammy is emerged as a strong candidate to lead the World XI to play against Pakistan in Pakistan next month, it is learnt here.

According to the highly placed sources in Pakistan, the ICC has “almost cleared” the three T-20 matches either in Lahore or both in Lahore and Karachi. Now only the security clearance from the FICA (world body overseeing the players’ interest) is awaited.

“Sammy has won the World T-20 tournament twice and is a strong contender for the captaincy”, one of the sources said.

Secondly, Sammy has been a captain of the Peshawar Zalmi team in the Pakistan Super League (PSL).

Andy Flower, the former Zimbabwe player, who also coached England will be the manager / coach of the visiting team, it is also learnt here.

“Flower may be asked to liaise with the BCCI to send Kohlis to Pakistan”.

The Indian cricket board will need government permission and it is to be seen how they would react to the Shashank Manohar-led ICC request.

http://pakobserver.net/darren-sammy-may-approached-world-xi-captaincy-pakistan/

 

[CanadianG00se]

Sammy may very well be part of World XI, but Kohli seems highly unlikely. I dont think Govt of India would allow any Indian player to travel.

 

[saeedhk]

An utter waste of money. This amount, if out into the domestic circuit, will do wonders for Pakistan cricket in the long run.

 

[hafeezrocks]

Kohli is coming?

 

[MenInG]

Kohli is coming?

Unlikely and near impossible.

 

[ExpressPacer]

That boils my blood. People are dying in Pakistan, daily. The government has stolen money from it's people for years - and the PCB have been doing the same for a decade-plus.

Why even bother?

The security level in Pakistan won't magically evaporate. The terrorists won't put their weapons down, and their suicide vests in the bins across Pakistan just because the PCB have decided to pay ridiculous amounts of dosh to players/coaches and staff. They then have to pay the logistical fees + more money for the security.

Then you have these idiots involved with our board who spend money [on holidays] abroad with the squad and staff where they're not needed, and other spendage that is being absolutely wasted on material and nonsensical stuff.

I rather they spent more time on the investment of the game [if they had to burn through the paper] be it women's cricket, the A-side and the players coming through the system.

If you want to "waste" money - do it within the game and do it so your kids look back in 10-20 years and say the PCB did a good thing there.

This isn't the best time to get the game back in Pakistan just yet. Sports in a country is often the mirror image of the nation itself. The people of that nation aren't safe themselves.

So let's find something more substantial than putting our fingers & toes in multiple leaked holes of the nation and hoping someone will come along and replace the aforementioned digits with more fingers and more toes.


/and frustration.

Very good post. Sums up my despondency.

 

[ExpressPacer]

If Kohli comes to Lahore, the response will be so loud, so majestic and so loving that windows in Amritsar will crack from the noise. It will truly be groundbreaking. However, I don't expect him to go forward with it. He already has plenty of money and even if he does decide to come, BCCI, GOI and the Hindu extremists will slaughter him.

 

[kingusama92]

If Kohli comes to Lahore, the response will be so loud, so majestic and so loving that windows in Amritsar will crack from the noise. It will truly be groundbreaking. However, I don't expect him to go forward with it. He already has plenty of money and even if he does decide to come, BCCI, GOI and the Hindu extremists will slaughter him.

Might be the only opportunity he ever gets to play in PAK.

That's enticing.

 

[ExpressPacer]

Might be the only opportunity he ever gets to play in PAK.

That's enticing.

He's toured Pakistan with the Under-19 team in the past, IIRC however yes, as for an international match, this will be the only chance but I don't expect someone like Raina being allowed to play this match let alone Kohli.

 

[cricketerB94]

An utter waste of money. This amount, if out into the domestic circuit, will do wonders for Pakistan cricket in the long run.

Business. If they succeed to get international teams back in Pakistan, they will earn twice as much money in one year.

And they are already spending this much money anyway in UAE.

 

[Titan24]

Business. If they succeed to get international teams back in Pakistan, they will earn twice as much money in one year.

And they are already spending this much money anyway in UAE.

Agreed.

All the people saying money shouldnt be used as people are dying. While I would want nothing more than to stop people dying not only in Pakistan but all over the world but, guys seriously PCB is paying money not the Govt. All the departments have their own budgets and their own goals, you cant say to all the departments to eradicate their goals just bcz few departments cant do their job properly.

 

[Titan24]

World XI tour going ahead has already encouraged the Srilankan Cricket Board President to give a positive statement about touring Pakistan.

 

[Flat_Track_Bully]

We are losing more money in UAE every year. This is money well spent.