Dhaka: Appreciating the move of arranging Independence Cup, a friendly T-20 series in Pakistan, Bangladesh dashing opener Tamim Iqbal on Friday said the initiative will help to bring back cricket in the nation.

"Someone (team) will have come forward to help to get cricket back in Pakistan," said Tamim while talking to reporters at a press conference in Mirpur, ahead of the Tigers two-match Test series at home against Australia.

Pakistan have been in international cricket exile since 2009, when the Sri Lanka team bus was attacked by gunmen in Lahore. They are trying to get back international cricket on their home soil since then.

Aiming to get back international teams, Pakistan is going to arrange a three-match friendly Twenty20 series, between World XI and Pakistan XI, which is set to have international status and to be played with military protection on September 12, 13 and 15 in Lahore.

Tamim who has been included in the World XI was questioned by journalists in Mirpur and in reply he said, "Firstly, it's an ICC approved tournament and it has international status. For me, representing world XI is a great opportunity. I'm very proud for that."

"Secondly, cricketing ten nations is like a family. Some one will have to come forward to help to get cricket back in Pakistan," Tamim continued.

"I think they have taken a fantastic initiative, they are doing nice thing with this arrangement. If they can successfully host the event, we may hope more international teams will go (Pakistan) to play cricket. It was necessary to start at any time. We are taking the first step. I think it's a nice thing, it could have been better if it had started earlier," he concluded.

The World XI side will be led by the South Africa captain Faf du Plessis and coached by Andy Flower and all the players are set to earn US$100,000 each for the three-match T20 series.

World XI squad: Faf du Plessis (South Africa, captain), Hashim Amla (SA), George Bailey (Australia), Paul Collingwood (England), Ben Cutting (Aus), Grant Elliott (New Zealand), Tamim Iqbal (Bangladesh), David Miller (SA), Tim Paine (Aus, WK), Thisara Perera (Sri Lanka), Darren Sammy (West Indies), Samuel Badree (WI), Morne Morkel (SA), Imran Tahir (SA).

Pakistan XI: Sarfraz Ahmed (captain), Fakhar Zaman, Ahmed Shehzad, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Umar Ameen, Amad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Muhammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Hassan Ali, Amir Yameen, Muhammad Amir, Roman Raees, Usman Shunwari and Sohail Khan.