Sri Lanka to play cricket in Pakistan?
Sri Lankan cricket board chief Thilanga Sumathipala announced that the national team could tour Pakistan this year for a T20 series. They had last visited Pakistan in 2009, when the team was attacked in Lahore by terrorists, injuring six members of the Sri Lankan team. While the schedule of the bilateral series has not been announced, it is expected to happen in September.
No international cricket in Pakistan since 2009
Soon after the SL team was attacked, New Zealand withdrew the Pakistan tour. Pakistan was also stripped of hosting rights for the 2011 World Cup. Apart from Zimbabwe's tour in 2015, no international cricket has been played in Pakistan in the last 8 years.
One T20 to be played in Lahore
Thilanga Sumathipala, who is also the chairman of Asian Cricket Council's development committee said that Sri Lanka will play at least one T20 international match in Lahore, where they were attacked in 2009. He said, "We have three T20I games coming up against Pakistan in September and we would like to play at least one of those games in Lahore."
"Pakistan stood by us when SL suffered terrorism"
Sri Lanka had earlier said that they will not allow Pakistan's isolation and also urged other countries to play in Pakistan. Sumathipala added, "Sri Lanka suffered through three decades of terrorism and war and at one stage no one wanted to come here- Pakistan stood by us then, as did India."
Sri Lanka positive about security arrangements in Pakistan
The SL cricket board chief added that they had sent a team of security experts in Pakistan to assess the arrangements. He said that things have improved and Pakistan is ready to host international matches.
