Pakistan All Stars XI beats Int'l World XI
Opening batsman Imran Nazir smashed 53 off 33 balls as the Pakistan All Stars XI defeated an International World XI by six wickets in the second Twenty20 exhibition match to clinch the series 2-0.
Nazir hit five boundaries and five sixes in the All Stars' convincing 145-4 in 16.4 overs after the International World XI compiled 142-9.
The series was organised by provincial sports minister Dr. Mohammad Ali Shah, who is hoping it will help return international cricket to Pakistan.
No test playing nation has toured Pakistan due to security concerns since gunmen attacked a Sri Lanka team bus in March 2009.
After being sent in to bat, the International World XI lost its captain Sanath Jayasuriya off the third ball - a contentious lbw decision by umpire Saleem Badar - after TV replays showed fast bowler Sohail Khan had pitched the ball outside the leg stump.
International World XI was reeling at 85-9 in the 16th over before No 11 Nantie Hayward of South Africa hammered three boundaries and four sixes in an unbeaten 42 off just 16 balls that gave the total some respectability.
Leftarm spinner Faraz Ahmed took 3-20 while Tabish Khan picked up two wickets for 19 runs.
The Pakistan All Stars XI won the first match by 84 runs.
Jayasuriya said he did not see any security problems during his stay in Pakistan and enjoyed playing in front of capacity crowds of more than 32,000 at the National Stadium.
"It's high time to assess the situation here in Pakistan and convince the other cricket boards," he said. "It's a big responsibility on the PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board) to push the other countries' cricket boards because we came here and nothing happened."
Pakistan All Stars XI 145-4 in 16.4 overs (Imran Nazir 53, Shahzaib Hasan 39, Asad Shafiq 23 not out; Steven Taylor 3-22) def. International World XI 142-9 (Nantie Hayward 42 not out, Andre Seymore 25; Faraz Ahmed 3-20, Tabish Khan 2-19) by six wickets.
