LAHORE: The World XI’s tour of militancy-racked Pakistan is more than just a game, captain Faf du Plessis and coach Andy Flower said Monday, amid high hopes it will revive international cricket in the country.
South Africa’s du Plessis told reporters in Lahore it was a “huge honor” to be playing the highest-profile event in cricket-mad Pakistan since a militant attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in 2009.
Pakistan has not hosted top-level international cricket — barring five limited-over matches against minnows Zimbabwe in 2015 — since that attack, which killed eight people and injured seven players and staff.
“It’s not every day you get an opportunity to play in something that is much more than just about yourself and your own team or your own country,” du Plessis said.
World XI coach Andy Flower, who toured Pakistan in 1993, 1996 and 1998 with Zimbabwe, said he and his team were “privileged” to be there.
“We, as the World XI, would also like to offer our sympathy and condolences to all those who have lost their loved ones in terrorist acts in Pakistan,” he said.
“These cricketers are here to play their part in the safe and steady return of international cricket in Pakistan, so that the enthusiastic and diehard fans and followers of Pakistan cricket can once again start watching their stars in their own backyard.”
Officials have said there will be “foolproof” security for the three-match Twenty20 series starting Tuesday in Lahore.
Both the hotel and stadium will be cordoned off, with 9,000 police and paramilitary staff deployed.
Shops and restaurants around the venue will be shut while spectators will have to pass through multiple security checkpoints.
Du Plessis said he was confident in the security arrangements.
“You do think about that sort of thing, but as soon as we spoke to the people who were in control of the security... as a player all you want was that peace of mind and they gave it to us.”
Once the players boarded the plane, he said, their fears vanished as they began to look forward to taking part in what he described as a “huge turnaround in world cricket.”
Since the 2009 attack Pakistan have been forced to play most of their “home” games overseas.
But security has dramatically improved in the last two years, signalling hopes for the slow revival of international sport.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Najam Sethi said the World XI’s arrival was a great day for Pakistan, though he admitted there was still a long way to go.
International Cricket Council head Giles Clarke said it was “still a long road and a lot of work.”
But he said events such as the final of the popular Pakistan Super League in Lahore earlier this year had made the World XI tour possible.
“Everybody had the courage and the confidence to play here (after that) and that was essential for this series,” he said.
Sethi thanked the World XI players for agreeing to the tour, and said the PCB now expects “more doors to open.”
Sri Lanka are set to make a hugely symbolic return to Lahore as part of a full series against Pakistan in October. Pakistan also hope West Indies will play three T20s in the city in November.
Cricket: Pakistan tour ‘more than cricket’ for Faf and Flower
Cricket: Pakistan tour ‘more than cricket’ for Faf and Flower
Real Sociedad end Barca winning streak to tighten Liga title race
- The Catalan giants, who hit the woodwork four times and had two goals disallowed, now only lead rivals Real Madrid by a single point at the top of the table
SAN SEBASTIAN, Spain: Real Sociedad damaged Barcelona’s title defense ambitions as Goncalo Guedes gave them a surprise 2-1 La Liga victory on Sunday as Hansi Flick’s side fell to a first defeat in 12 matches.
The Catalan giants, who hit the woodwork four times and had two goals disallowed, now only lead rivals Real Madrid by a single point at the top of the table after Alvaro Arbeloa’s side beat Levante on Saturday.
Hosts Real Sociedad, now unbeaten in four games under new American coach Pellegrino Matarazzo, had Carlos Soler sent off late on but managed to hold on to triumph and climb up to eighth.
“I think we deserved to win today, we had a lot of chances, but in the end you have to put them away,” Barca midfielder Frenkie de Jong told DAZN.
“We played well but we didn’t win... their goalkeeper had a very good game.”
Sociedad shot-stopper Alex Remiro made several crucial saves.
“Three great points and a great game,” said Remiro.
“We’ve started this year in great form... this is the energy we have, how we’ve changed (recently).”
In a frantic start to a compelling game at the rainy Reale Arena, both teams had goals ruled out.
La Real had the ball in the net inside 30 seconds when Mikel Oyarzabal headed home Guedes’s cross, but had strayed offside.
At the other end, Barcelona’s Fermin Lopez drilled home from range but Dani Olmo had committed a foul in the build-up and it was ruled out.
With teenage winger Lamine Yamal keen to take on defenders, Barca got in often down the right flank. The 18-year-old teed up Olmo who fired high over the bar when he might have sent the Catalans ahead.
Yamal found the net himself but the goal was ruled out for an extremely tight offside, before Real Sociedad took the lead against the run of play.
Oyarzabal lashed home Guedes’s cross with a blistering volley inside Joan Garcia’s near post.
Yamal was felled just inside the area before half-time but although the referee pointed to the spot, a VAR review showed that the youngster was offside again and it was canceled out.
Remiro heroics
Barcelona turned up the pressure in the second half and Real Sociedad were left depending on Remiro and the frame of the goal to keep the Catalans at bay.
Olmo crashed a shot against the post from Lopez’s cross and then Remiro denied the Barca midfielder with a fine near-post save.
Remiro then tipped substitute Robert Lewandowski’s header against the crossbar with the save of the night.
Another Barca substitute, Marcus Rashford, eventually pulled the champions level, heading Yamal’s cross home after 70 minutes.
However, the hosts immediately regained their advantage after Barca goalkeeper Garcia initially saved Carlos Soler’s shot. The midfielder was able to gather the rebound and cross for Guedes, who fired La Real ahead again.
They should have got a third when Garcia, out of his goal, had no chance of saving Oyarzabal’s effort but Pau Cubarsi headed the ball off the line.
Barcelona came within centimeters of an equalizer when Joao Cancelo, on his second debut for the club, crossed for Jules Kounde, who headed against the crossbar.
Soler was dismissed for an ugly foul on Pedri before nine minutes of stoppage time were added on.
Rashford hit the post directly from a corner kick as Barca pushed until the end but could not find a way through.
