Eight years after terrorists attacked their team bus in Lahore, Sri Lanka are all set to visit Pakistan next month for a T20 International. The Islanders will play a full-fledged series against Pakistan which starts this month with a two-match Test series in UAE.
The Test series will be followed by a five-match One-Day International series and a three-match T20I series. However, if everything remains well as far as security is concerned, the two teams will play the final T20I in Lahore.
Since the 2009 attack, barring Zimbabwe and Afghanistan, no international team has visited Pakistan due to security reasons. However, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) send a big signal that it is ready to host international matches by successfully staging Pakistan Super League final in Lahore this year. The International Cricket Council is also doing its bit in bringing back international cricket to Pakistan.
International cricket returns to Pakistan later this week when a World XI side-led by Faf du Plessis will take on Men in Green in a three-match T20I series in Lahore. And if it is successfully held, it will pave the way for Sri Lanka’s visit next month.
SLC president Thilanga Sumathipala had already said Sri Lanka would not hesitate in visiting the country.
“CRICKET IS A GAME OF CHANGE, CHANCE AND CHASE,” SUMATHIPALA HAD SAID last month. “THE GAME TODAY, AND ITS FOLLOWING IS VERY DIFFERENT TO WHAT IT WAS TEN YEARS AGO, AND AS ADMINISTRATORS, WE ARE FACED WITH A DIFFERENT SET OF CHALLENGES TO OVERCOME. WORLD CRICKET IS IN THE HANDS OF THE UNITY OF ASIA. WE NEED TO RESPECTFULLY UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER’S PROBLEMS AND STAND BY EACH OTHER. THIS IS THE SPIRIT OF THE ASIAN CRICKET COUNCIL.”
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka will also play their first day-night Test during the series. The second and final match of the series will be played with a pink ball under lights in Dubai between October 6 and 10.
Schedule for Pakistan-Sri Lanka series:
Tests
September 28-October 2, first Test, Abu Dhabi
October 6-10, second Test (day-night), Dubai
ODIs
October 13, first ODI, Dubai
October 16, second ODI, Abu Dhabi
October 18, third ODI, Abu Dhabi
October 24, fourth ODI, Sharjah
October 23, fifth ODI, Sharjah
T20I
October 26, first T20I, Abu Dhabi
October 27, second T20I, Abu Dhabi
October 29, third T20I, Lahore