MCC to tour Pakistan after recent return of Test cricket to country.

KARACHI -- It has been confirmed today that Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) will be sending a touring squad to Pakistan in 2020. Captained by current MCC President Kumar Sangakkara, the Club will send a team to Lahore in February next year, playing a number of matches in the city. The concept of a tour to Pakistan has been a long stated aim of the MCC World Cricket committee, with its Members having expressed an interest in helping Pakistan during the country's exile from hosting international cricket. Following an attack on the touring Sri Lanka team's bus in Lahore in 2009, Pakistan's home Test matches have been played on neutral territory, until very recently,

as a two-Test series between the sides part of the World Test Championship began last week. At the MCC World Cricket committee meeting held at Lord's in August, the WCC re-affirmed their support in seeing touring sides return to Pakistan with security analysis being a prerequisite following a presentation and discussion with Wasim Khan, the Chief Executive of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). It was agreed that MCC would consider touring Pakistan in the future and following a full investigation into security measures, and assessment into the viability of the trip, the Club can confirm they have accepted an invitation from the PCB to tour in February. Guy Lavender, MCC Chief Executive and Secretary said: 'The people of Pakistan have been starved of seeing their team play at home for a decade and it is wonderful to see that Test cricket has recently returned to the country. 'As a Club, one of MCC's priorities is to maintain its global relevance on the game by supporting countries in their provision for cricket, and we are united with the global game in wanting to see international teams returning to play in Pakistan. 'Of course the...