West Indies to tour Pakistan for three-match T20 series

New Delhi: International cricket is all set for a return to Pakistan with the Asian giants gearing up to host West Indies for a three T20 series in Karachi early next month, confirmed Pakistan’s cricket chief on Sunday.

No top international team has visited Pakistan since the 2009 terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team bus which killed people and left 7 players injured.

Since then, Pakistan hosted two Twenty20 and three one-day internationals against Zimbabwe in 2015 but last year's final of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), three T20 internationals against a World XI and a T20 international match against Sri Lanka helped convince the West Indies.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Najam Sethi said the West Indies have confirmed the series.

"It's a good news that West Indies have confirmed three Twenty20 internationals to be played in Karachi on April 1, 2 and 4," Sethi told media in Dubai on the sidelines of the ongoing third edition of the PSL.

West Indies are the reigning World Twenty20 champions after winning the title in India in 2016.

Karachi will also host the PSL final on March 25, while Lahore will host two playoff games on March 20 and 21.

"That is how we intend to put Karachi back on cricket map once again. PSL final and now three more games for Karachi as per routine. Karachi people should welcome this," said Sethi of Karachi, where the last international was a Test match against Sri Lanka in February 2009.

Sethi also announced he was in talks with West Indies Cricket for a Twenty20 tri-series in the United States.

"While West Indies tour to Pakistan is a one-off series, we are also in consultation with the WIC on a tri-series, also involving Bangladesh in first year, for a period of five years," said Sethi.