KARACHI — Fast bowler Tabish Khan achieved a hat trick while Umar Akmal and Shahzaib Hasan hit rapid half centuries as the Pakistan All Stars defeated an International World XI by 84 runs in a Twenty20 Saturday. The exhibition match before a capacity crowd of 35,000 at the National Stadium marked the return of international cricket of a sort in Pakistan after 3 1/2 years. All major Test teams have avoided Pakistan since the deadly attack on the Sri Lanka team convoy at Lahore in March 2009. Pakistan posted a mammoth 222-7 with Akmal unbeaten on 67 off 37 balls and opening batsman Hasan escaping three dropped catches to score 54 off 21 balls with six boundaries and four sixes. Khan then clean bowled Ricardo Powell (5), Jermaine Lawson (0) and Thandi Tshabalala (0) off successive deliveries to restrict an International World XI made up of Sri Lanka, South Africa, West Indies and Afghanistan players to 138-8. Scores: Pakistan All Stars XI 222-7 (Umar Akmal 67 not out, Shahzaib Hasan 54; Thandi Tshabalala 3-20, Shapoor Zadran 2-38) def. International World XI 138-8 (Shapoor Zadran 42; Tabish Khan 3-25, Wahab Riaz 2-17) by 84 runs. PCB chief optimistic of international matches Pakistan's cricket chief Sunday voiced confidence international matches will return to the country as soon as next year. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Zaka Ashraf said his optimism stemmed from the successful staging of two unofficial Twenty20 matches between an International World XI and Pakistan All Stars. Ashraf hoped the two matches will send out positive signals. “I think these matches, despite being private, are a good step and PCB supported and encouraged these matches and they generated a lot of enthusiasm from the fans, which is a good sign,” Ashraf told reporters. Ashraf said his board was encouraging several countries to tour. “When you talk of international cricket, we are in negotiations with Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe cricket boards and we will give you a good news as early as next year,” said Ashraf. The PCB had almost convinced Bangladesh to tour last April before the Bangladeshi high court blocked it on security grounds. But Ashraf insisted Pakistan will host internationals soon. “We are talking to two other boards as well but I am not going to reveal names. We have given them security plans and I am sure the day is not far when we have big time cricket in Karachi, Lahore and other cities,” he said. Ashraf revealed his board is also enlisting help from former players in their efforts to bring back international fixtures. “We are taking former cricketers with us on the matter because we need their services for the revival of the game.,” said Ashraf. Tour postponed The Pakistan Cricket Board has postponed a tour to Zimbabwe in December in anticipation of a bilateral one-day series against India. A senior official of the board said that under the future tour program of the International Cricket Council, Pakistan was due to visit Zimbabwe for a Test and one-day series in December. “But since it is too close to the series against India we have informed the Zimbabwe authorities the tour should be held sometime next year,” the official said. Pakistan has been invited by the Indian board to play three ODIs and two T20 matches in December. — Agencies
