Road Safety World Series to feature Pakistani team for the first time

The highly anticipated Road Safety World Series, a T20 league featuring former international cricket stars, is all set to make history by including a team from Pakistan in its upcoming third season. 

The league, which has previously been held in India, will take place in England this year, and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has officially approved the prestigious tournament.

Having commenced in March 2020, the Road Safety World Series has completed two thrilling seasons hosted in India. 

However, the third season, scheduled for September this year, will mark a significant milestone as it ventures to England to enthral cricket fans globally for close to three weeks.

According to the sources close to the event, the dates for the third season are still being finalised, and the competition is set to feature nine teams, as compared to the eight teams in the previous edition. This expansion reflects the growing popularity of the tournament and the increasing interest among former cricket legends to participate.

The inaugural season, launched in March 2020, featured teams from India, Sri Lanka, South Africa, West Indies, and Australia. Due to the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, the competition was cut short after only four matches. The remaining games resumed in March 2021 in Raipur, with Australia having to withdraw due to Covid-19-related travel restrictions. 

Bangladesh replaced them, while England was added as another participating nation.
The second season took place in Dehradun and Raipur in September 2022 and witnessed the addition of an eighth team, New Zealand, alongside Australia's return. In both editions, the thrilling competition culminated with the India Legends team emerging victorious by defeating Sri Lanka Legends in the final match held in Raipur.

Notably, including a team from Pakistan in the forthcoming season has been long-awaited, primarily due to strained relations between the governments of India and Pakistan in recent years. 

Pakistani participation remained elusive, with the tournament being held exclusively in India until now. However, the move to England has paved the way for including a Pakistani team and has generated excitement among cricket enthusiasts on both sides of the border.

The Road Safety World Series has attracted some of the most iconic names in cricket, with former ODI and T20 World Cup champions gracing the tournament. Players such as Sachin Tendulkar, Kevin Pietersen, Sanath Jayasuriya, Shane Watson, Tillakaratne Dilshan, and Yuvraj Singh have participated in the league, along with legends like Brian Lara, Jonty Rhodes, Shane Bond, and many others.

Cricket fans worldwide eagerly await the commencement of the third season of the Road Safety World Series in September. The addition of the Pakistani team is expected to elevate the competition to new heights, creating an unforgettable spectacle for cricket enthusiasts and further strengthening the bond between the cricketing nations.

As the tournament draws near, cricket enthusiasts will look forward to witnessing their favourite cricket legends again take to the field in a battle of skill, passion, and sportsmanship in the Road Safety World Series.

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