Re: Asia XI vs Rest of the World XI - Houston (June 2005)
update:
** Top Pakistan, India cricketers to feature in Houston ODIs**
By our correspondent
KARACHI: Cricket World International (CWC) has signed on top players from Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka and other Test playing nations for a series of three one-day matches scheduled in Houston, United States in June.
A senior official of the CWC, Hasan Jalil confirmed on Wednesday that Inzamam-ul-Haq, Younis Khan, Yousuf Youhana, Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Akhtar, Muhammad Sami and Rashid Latif had been signed on from Pakistan while from India Virender Sehwag, Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh, Mahendra Singh Dhoni andIrfan Pathan had agreed to play for the Asian Eleven against the World Eleven in the three matches.
The matches would be held at the Astrodome in Houston on June 16, 18 and 19. Hasan, who is also a well known Urdu commentator, said the series was part of efforts to promote the game in the United States and a follow up to two double-wicket competitions held in New York and Houston since 2000.
“We got good response for those two tournaments and we are hoping that with a proper one-day series in which the world’s top players are involved this event would be a bigger draw and sellout,” he added.
Incidentally, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has also resumed its efforts to develop and promote the game in the USA and the three games are said to have its support and blessings.
Sri Lankan players Mahela Jayawardena and Dilhara Fernando will also play for the Asian Eleven. For the World Eleven the CWI have negotiated with Ricardo Powell, Wavell Hinds and Dawyne Bravo (West Indies), Chris Harris, Hamish Marshal (New Zealand), Heath Streak (Zimbabwe), Mark Boucher and Herschelle Gibbs (South Africa), Andy Bichel (Australia), Nasser Hussain (England) and John Davison (Canada).
CWI in conjunction with the United States Cricket Association is also planning to host a grand cricket awards ceremony/dinner/ musical night during the series in which legendary figures like Sachin Tendulkar, Sir Vivian Richards, Courtney Walsh, Javed Miandad, Brian Lara, Aravinda de Silva, etc are likely to be given awards.
source:
official site:
http://www.cricketworldinternational.com/