LONDON, Aug 24: Former England all rounder Paul Collingwood has been approached to play in a Twenty20 series in Pakistan next month as part of the campaign to bring top-level cricket back to the country.
Collingwood admits he could be willing to take part in the landmark three-match series in Lahore provided security measures are in place.
The touring side will be coached by Andy Flower, forming part of the International Cricket Council�s bid to step up the return of major matches to the volatile nation.
The World XI series will be followed by a short visit by Sri Lanka for a Twenty20 match in October, then a Twenty20 series against the West Indies a month later.
Collingwood, England�s World Twenty20 winning captain in 2010, is still playing for Durham and admits the idea of representing a World XI at the age of 41 certainly appeals.
�I�ve been asked if I would be willing. But until you hear all the details of the security and everything you can�t really commit to anything,� he said.
�Andy asked me if I would entertain the idea, so that�s the starting point.
�Certainly the thing that would interest me is if, at 41, I could play in a T20 international in front of that crowd, that would float anybody�s boat.
�The tag of a World XI at 41, I�m quite proud of that if I was to get into that team.�
Pakistan has been isolated from the international scene since a terrorist attack on the Sri Lanka team bus in Lahore in 2009 and have been forced to play their �home� internationals in the UAE.
Collingwood added: �What I do remember about Pakistan was the passion of the supporters.
�I think Karachi was probably one of the loudest crowds I have heard during an international match. They love cricket out there and it�s a tough place to tour.
�If it was England and we weren�t allowed to play cricket in England, we would be doing everything possible to get it back.� � AFP
