Sri Lanka will return to Pakistan after a nearly two-year absence to play three ODI and three T20 matches in the month of September, this year. On Friday the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced the dates for the two upcoming series at home.
Good news for Pakistan audience
There will be a split series that will see ODIs and T20Is being played in Pakistan while the Tests will be played in Sri Lanka. The decision to swap matches was taken by two respective boards during a telephone conversation between PCB Chairman Ehsan Mani and SLC President Shammi Silva. The PCB Chairman Ehsan Manni said, “The upcoming matches will end the long wait of the Pakistan cricket fans and supporters to watch modern-day stars from both sides live in action. This is something that will contribute immensely to our revamped domestic cricket structure.” He expressed gratitude to Silva “for responding positively to our request to play matches in Pakistan.”
International teams have stayed away from Pakistan for a long time over security concerns. In October 2017, Sri Lanka played a T20 match in Lahore for the first time since a terror attack near the same venue on March 2009. The PSL final was organized in Lahore in the same year in March followed by a World XI tour later that year. The 2018 final of the PSL was once again held in Karachi. West Indies then agreed to play three T20s in Karachi on April 2018.
Safety assured by Sri Lankan experts
SLC President Silva, speaking about the security issue said that his country’s security experts’ had visited Karachi and Lahore earlier this month and given a positive report. “If there had been any doubts, the SLC would not have gone ahead with this arrangement that we envisage will improve the players’ confidence and trust level and will also be critical when we start discussions on the schedule of the Test matches,” Silva said.
Sri Lanka will play three ODI matches at Karachi’s National Stadium on September 27, 29 and October 2. Then Three T20Is will be organized take at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on October 5,7 and 9. After these two series, Sri Lanka will host Pakistan for two Tests in late December that are part of World Test Championships.
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