Cricket in Pakistan is all set to begin as Sri Lanka has decided to go to Pakistan and play a T20 in Lahore. However, the match is still a subject to security clearance. The rest of the series will be played in UAE where Pakistan has hosted all the events after the terrorist attacks on the Sri Lankan team in 2009. And now Sri Lanka has decided to tour the country again after eight years.
Since the attacks in 2009, no Test playing nation has gone to Pakistan because of security concerns in terror struck country. Only Zimbabwe and Afghanistan have been there and played a limited over’s series. But it looks like cricket in the country is back to Sri Lanka will play a three match T20 series, with the third T20 to be played in Lahore, subject to security clearance.
The two teams will clash in all the three formats with the tour set to start with a Day/Night Test match from 28th September. The tour includes two Tests, five One Day Internationals and three T20I’s to be played in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, and Lahore. Sri Lanka cricket (SLC) president Thilanga Sumathipala said he is ‘keen’ to send his team to Pakistan.
He said:
“I am keen to take my team to Pakistan. We have had our security experts visit and make an assessment, and things look positive with things improving all over the country and especially Lahore being cleared. We have three T20 games coming up against Pakistan in September and we would like to play at least one of those games in Lahore.”
He hopes members from both the countries give their complete support to prove security. He said:
I call upon each one of you as members to play your role and give Pakistan the security of your support. There is always risk – there were two attacks in London during the Champions trophy, but cricket continued under the security assurances if the ICC, so likewise we too must be as accommodating and understanding as possible with our members and extend our fullest support to them as the cricketing family of Asia.”
ICC will also send a World XI team to Pakistan in 2009 to play three T20I’s to get back the lost interest of Pakistani people back in cricket.