AB de Villiers will represent Lahore Qalandars in PSL 2019
Former South Africa captain AB de Villiers has confirmed that he play at the Gaddafi Stadium during the Pakistan Super League as he wants to do his bit to revive cricket in Pakistan.
Most of the international stars have decided not to travel to Pakistan die to security concerns but the campaign received a boost with De Villers's arrival with Lahore Qalandars, who is easily one of the biggest stars in the world of cricket.
International cricket in Pakistan has been on course for revival recently with a three-match T20I series between ICC's World XI and Pakistan in 2017 -- which resumed top-flight cricket in the country. After that, West Indies, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe have all traveled to the country.
Most of the PSL matches are staged in the UAE, but the Pakistan Cricket Board is pushing for more games in Pakistan. Last year the two eliminators and the final were played in Pakistan; as many as eight games of the upcoming season will be shared between the two Pakistani cities of Karachi and Lahore.
de Villiers's Lahore Qalandars are scheduled to play two gomes in Lahore and AB has decided to travel to the country after a gap of 2007.
"I am delighted to confirm that I will represent Lahore Qalandars in front of our home crowds on 9 and 10 March, during PSL 2019," de Villiers was quoted as saying by the official league website.
"I look forward to revisiting the Gaddafi Stadium and aim to play my part in helping Lahore Qalandars achieve something they have been aspiring for since the inception of this tournament in 2016," he added.
"I am fully aware that cricket is like a second religion in Pakistan. I still remember the support and appreciation we received in 2007. Furthermore, I feel I have a role to play in helping international cricket return to Pakistan. These have been some of the motivating factors for me to return to Lahore.
"I sympathise with the people of Pakistan because they have been cricket-starved for no fault of theirs, but I am optimistic that the days are not too far when international cricket will return to Pakistan and the stadia will once again be packed with crowds," he said recalling the previous visit.
