By Muhammad Luqman
Sri Lanka’s cricket board has approved a tour to Pakistan, brightening the chances of return of international cricket to the South Asian country, roughly eight years after an attack on Sri Lankan squad in eastern city of Lahore.
According to media reports, Sri Lanka Cricket chief Thilanga Sumathipala made the announcement after a security assessment, the team had been cleared to play three T20Is including one in Lahore.
Leading cricket nations have not played in Pakistan since the 2009 assault, in which gunmen ambushed the Sri Lankan team bus en route to the Lahore stadium, wounding at least seven players.
“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,” Sumathipala was quoted by media as saying in a statement.
“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 added.
Since that attack, only one full member — Zimbabwe, toured Pakistan for a limited overs tour back in 2015.
The news comes as another positive one for Pakistan cricket fans, as ICC World XI is also expected to tour the country next month.
