Qadir offers to raise world eleven to play in Pakistan

KARACHI: In a bid to revive the sagging status of international cricket in Pakistan, former Test leg-spinner Abdul Qadir has offered to raise a world eleven team which can tour the country next year.
Pakistan chief selector Qadir said in an interview that he could use his good relations with former and present international players to convince them to be part of a world eleven squad that can tour Pakistan anytime next year.
"Look it is obvious that we need to get some international players to tour Pakistan or else forget about the revival of international cricket in Pakistan at least until after the 2011 World Cup," Qadir said.
"We need to take initiatives to convince the outside world that the security situation in Pakistan is improving and it is safe to play cricket in the country," he added.
England's former Test captain and now noted commentator, Tony Greig had also offered to raise a World eleven and bring it to Pakistan but his proposal was rejected by the Pakistan Cricket Board.
The PCB claimed that Greig had asked for $10 million dollars to raise the team and was not willing to confirm how many current players he would have in the world eleven team.
"It was not a viable proposition for us so we have politely turned down Tony Greig's offer," a board official said.
But Qadir said the board needed to realise that it can't just sit and wait for things to happen and for international teams to start touring Pakistan again.
"The attack on the Sri Lankan team was the final blow to Pakistan cricket. But if proper damage control steps are taken and the board is willing to spend money and specifically set up a wing to convince teams to tour Pakistan then a world eleven can be invited to Pakistan," Qadir said.
The leg-spinner said he would be willing to use his influence with international players to raise the world eleven if the board supported him.
"The question right now is not how many current players we can get the main thing is get a team to tour Pakistan to set the ball rolling," he added.
A senior board official, however, confirmed that the PCB had spoken to officials of other boards and even the Asian cricket council asking them to at least send some players over to Pakistan to play in the domestic T20 competition.
"But from everywhere we got the same answer that in the present conditions in Pakistan no player's family will allow him to tour Pakistan nor can the authorities take such a risk," the official said.