Imran left on a five-day visit to the United Kingdom as the World XI is due to reach Lahore in the wee hours of Monday for the three T20 international matches which are the first in Pakistan with the support of the ICC since terrorists attacked the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore in March 2009.
Imran, who heads the main opposition party, is expected to only return to Pakistan on the day the World XI ends its tour.
Imran has been a staunch critic of Sethi who was caretaker Chief Minister of Punjab when the last general elections were held.
It is not known how many of these former captains or stalwarts will attend the matches although Pakistan's discarded off-spinner, Saeed Ajmal, complained on a television channel that he had been sent no invitation for the matches.