Pakistan will provide Sri Lanka with presidential-level security
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Sri Lanka have confirmed that they will travel to Lahore for the third and final Twenty20 International against Pakistan on October 29.
The two teams are currently playing in the United Arab Emirates, but after Pakistan successfully hosted the World XI for a three-match Twenty20 series last month, they have finally managed to convince an international team to play a match in front on their own fans.
In fact, Sri Lanka were the last Full Member team to tour Pakistan before their team bus was attacked by militants in Lahore in March 2009.
Since then, Pakistan have been forced to host all their home series in the United Arab Emirates.
According to ESPNcricinfo, Sri Lanka limited overs captain Upul Tharanga has withdrawn from the match.
“SLC have over the past two months conducted a thorough evaluation with the assistance of the Government of Sri Lanka, the Government of Pakistan, the PCB and independent Security experts,” a statement released by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) said. “The Executive Committee evaluated the reports obtained together with the recommendation of the International Cricket Council – which successfully conducted the Independence Cup tournament in Lahore fielding a World XI Team – and having been fully satisfied with the stringent security measures in place, the SLC ExCo unanimously decided to play the third T20 in Lahore on October 29.”
While SLC president Thilanga Sumathipala will travel to Pakistan with the team, it has also been confirmed that Sri Lanka will be provided with the same level of security that was given to the World XI.
Sri Lanka batting coach Hashan Tillakaratne revealed that it was the board’s duty to help Pakistan, especially as Pakistan and India sent a combined team to the 1996 World Cup in Sri Lanka after Australia and the West Indies initially withdrew from the tournament due to security concerns.
“SLC has already announced that we will tour Lahore. In 1996, Pakistan helped us by forming the combined India-Pakistan side, and now it is our duty to help them,” Tillakaratne said.