World XI's visit to Pakistan - the dawn of a new era in Pakistan cricket

The picture of Pakistan cricket changed forever in 2009 when the Sri Lankan team was attacked by terrorists on their tour of Pakistan. On March 3rd, 2009, 12 gunmen attacked a bus carrying a convoy of the Sri Lankan players to the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore who were headed to play the third day of the second Test against the hosts. Six Lankan players were injured while two civilians were killed in the attack, which was condemned by the whole sporting fraternity and Pakistan was greatly criticised for the security provided to the visiting nation's players.

The day went out as the darkest day in Pakistan's cricketing history and since the attack, every cricket board declined to send their team's to Pakistan. Following the attack and boycott, the Pakistan Cricket Board were forced to shift to a neutral venue in UAE for their home games. The venue shifting to UAE not only deprived thousands of fans of the chance to watch their heroes in action but also burdened the PCB financially who were forced to give a part of their earnings to the UAE management for allowing them to play cricket on their home turf. The loss in revenue also forced the PCB to cut down their cricketers' salaries. Reduced salaries coupled with other factors like reduced television viewership, and teams avoiding to play against Pakistan resulted in the decline of cricket in the country. On the other hand, the PCB was finding it harder and harder to boost the quality of cricket failing to provide the necessary funding at the grass root levels.

The Pakistan cricket hit a new low when even Afghanistan denied visiting the country on accounts of security measures compounding the nation's isolation in terms of cricket. The PCB tried to reinstate cricket to its former glory in the nation through the inception of Pakistan Super League but unfortunately, the inaugural season of the local tournament had to be played in UAE due to security concerns. Although the following season saw a shift in the venue to Pakistan, the league bringing the likes of Dwayne Bravo, Shane Watson, Darren Sammy, and Brendon McCullum to play in Pakistan but it did not help the PCB convince the cricket boards to send their respective teams to tour the nation.

The historic win was enough to turn ICC's attention towards the declining state of cricket in Pakistan who decided to encourage the talent by taking the initiative to reinstate the quality of cricket to its former glory into their very own hands. The International Cricket Council decided to send a World XI team constituting former and current international players to Pakistan to face the hosts in three T20Is. The matches symbolize of the restoration of security in the nation and signify the cricket's International governing body's confidence in the nation being secure enough for the biggest of all teams to compete.