KARACHI: A day af ter the Pakistan Super League (PSL) final was successfully held in Lahore, prospects of international cricket returning to the country brightened on Monday.

According to Giles Clarke, the former chairman and now president of the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB), the International Cricket Council (ICC) is contemplating sending a World XI to Lahore later this year for a four-match Twenty20 series.

The series is part of the ICC TaskForce`s plans for restoration of toplevel cricket in Pakistan after eight years. Since March 2009 foreign sides, barring Zimbabwe who visited Lahore shortly af ter the 2015 World Cup, have refrained from touring Pakistan following a terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team on their way to Gaddafi Stadium for a Test match.

Clarke, who last month threw his weight behind the Pakistan Cricket Board for the PSL final to be played in Lahore, was quoted by the British newspaper Guardian that Sunday`s final had raised hopes of international cricket returning to Pakistan.`The desire is to give cricket-starved Pakistani supporters the chance to see some of the world`s finest players in action,` the report quoted Clarke as saying. `The world of cricket needs to help Pakistan, who cannot continue to play their home fixtures overseas. The youth need inspiring, and the national teams need far more cricket played in familiar terrain. Furthermore, the terrorists cannot win and cricket must not give up on Pakistan.` According to Guardian, the World XI players will arrive in Dubai on Sept 17, before leaving for Lahore. The matches are planned for Sept 22, 23, 28 and 29.