In pictures: Getting ready for the World XI

After winning the Champions Trophy earlier this year, Pakistan will face a star-studded World XI team for the first of three T20 matches at the Gaddafi Stadium tonight, in a history-making event which sees the return of high-profile international cricket to the country after a wait of eight years.

The World XI, led by South African skipper Faf du Plessis, reached Lahore on Monday morning amid tight security, with West Indian spinner Samuel Badree joining the team earlier today and completing the stellar line-up of 14 players from seven Test-playing countries.

The other notable players of the World XI are South Africa great Hashim Amla, West Indies’ twice-T20 World Cup winning captain Darren Sammy, Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal, former England captain Paul Collingwood, New Zealand’s Grant Elliott and George Bailey from Australia.

The historic series will be closely monitored by other cricket boards and Pakistan expects it will pave the way for the country to host Sri Lanka and West Indies later this year.