South Africa's batting mainstay Hashim Amla said that he had fond memories of visiting Pakistan in 2007 and was eager to make the trip back to the country as part of the World XI team.

A 14-member World XI squad landed at the Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore in the wee hours of Monday morning for a path-breaking tour involving three T20 Internationals against Pakistan. In what is a big step to help international cricket return to Pakistan, the World XI will against Pakistan on September 12, 13 and 15 at the Gaddafi Stadium, as part of the Independence Cup.

Prior to their departure, the squad held an optional training session at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday afternoon. And Amla said that the group were quite excited about making the trip and "be part of something special".

"We are very excited. I can speak for myself and I'm speaking for everybody in the World XI squad. We are all really excited to get to Pakistan and be part of something special of introducing international cricket slowly and safely back into Pakistan," Amla said prior to the session.

"I have good memories. I was there with the Test team and we managed to win that Test series. At that stage, not many teams go to Pakistan and win a Test series. So, I have good memories playing against Pakistan, the crowds were good, the atmosphere was great. So, happy to be going back," he added.

Amla was part of the Test team that toured Pakistan in 2007 and he scored 71 as the visitors went on to win the first Test in Karachi by 160 runs. The second Test in Lahore was drawn.

The 34-year-old said that with Pakistan being a major player in the cricketing world, it was vital to end the isolation and help international cricket return to the country.

"It would be great for world cricket to see cricket slowly and safely back in Pakistan. Pakistan have always been major role players in the cricketing fraternity so, hopefully we can play our part," he said.

"For me, personally, apart from being part of something bigger, we have a series in South Africa, when we get back. Bangladesh are coming to South Africa for some Tests, ODIs and T20s. So, this kind of forms part of my preparation of getting of getting into the cricket season and what better way than to come to Pakistan to play," added Amla.

Amla said there were no apprehensions after receiving assurances on security. "Once we got the go ahead from the International Cricket Council (ICC), security and our local board, everything seemed to be in place. So, it really didn't take too much convincing. As I said, for all the players here, it is about being a part of something bigger and try and get international cricket back to Pakistan. It is really important for world cricket. The Pakistani supporters are fantastic. Wherever we have been in the world, it has been outstanding whenever we have played them. It always feels like a home game against Pakistan even though we are playing in neutral venues. So, Imran didn't have to do much convincing and everything kind of fell into place," he said.

And Amla was looking forward to a well-fought series between the World XI and Pakistan.

"We have a very good team. I've played with Faf (du Plessis) and three of the other South African players and we have other quality internationals. So, it is a really good team and as I said, Pakistan are a quality team too. So, hopefully it is a closely contested series. Three matches in four days is going to be very exciting," said Amla.

"We played against Pakistan in the Champions Trophy and it pretty much everybody we have played against, I think. Pakistan are a very good team and obviously being the 50-over Champions Trophy winners, they have always been a formidable team in T20s. So, it is going to be really exciting and everybody is going to enjoy the competition and the atmosphere," he added.

Source: Khaleej Times