The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday announced that the Sri Lankan board will send a security team to the country in August to explore the possibility of a tour.
Pakistan has been forced to play most of its matches in the UAE since the attack on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore in 2009. However, in the past few years efforts have been made to bring meaningful international cricket back to the country.
Pakistan has hosted Zimbabwe (ODIs and T20), a World XI team, Sri Lanka for one T20 and the West Indies (T20). Also, the final stages of the Pakistan Super League are now being held in the country, expediting the ‘normalisation’ process. The effort now is to have a full tour from a major team.
Announcing the decision on Twitter, the PCB stated: “The Sri Lanka Cricket board has assured PCB of sending a security team. A delegation of the Sri Lankan board will visit Pakistan in August. The finalised dates for the delegation’s arrival will be announced soon.”
Pakistan has been negotiating with Sri Lanka to host a two-match Test series in October in Pakistan.
Sri Lanka was targeted by extremists in April this year in a series of co-ordinated attacks that left more than 200 people dead.
