News Desk |
Test cricket is expected to return to Pakistan not long from now as the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC)’s security delegation sent to inspect conditions in Pakistan has given a ‘very positive feedback’ to the Sri Lankan cricket board.
The SLC had sent a security delegation to visit Pakistan after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) gave them an offer to play one match in Pakistan — it’s first of the World Test Championship.
If everything works out, Pakistan could host its first Test match since the Lahore attack on Sri Lanka’s team bus in March 2009.
According to a report by ESPNcricinfo, the security delegation gave SLC “very positive feedback” upon its return from Lahore and Karachi.
A world XI side consisting of high profile players like Faf du Plessis and Hashim Amla also played a T20I series against Pakistan.
“The feedback we got from the security team was very positive,” SLC CEO Ashley de Silva told ESPNcricinfo. “We’ll be talking to the PCB about some alternatives before we arrive at a decision. The government will be consulted as well,” he said.
In July, PCB had announced that SLC has sent reassurance that their security team will be visiting Pakistan in August. PCB’s official Twitter account had said: “The Sri Lanka cricket board has assured PCB of sending a security team. A delegation of the Sri Lankan cricket board will visit Pakistan in August. The finalized dates for the delegation’s arrival will be announced soon. A Test series between Sri Lanka and Pakistan is scheduled for October.”
سری لنکا کرکٹ بورڈ نے پی سی بی کو سیکورٹی وفد بھجوانے کی یقین دہانی کرادی
سری لنکا کرکٹ بورڈ کا وفد اگست میں پاکستان آئے گا
وفد کی پاکستان آمد کے بارے میں حتمی تاریخوں کا اعلان جلد کردیا جائے گا
پاکستان اور سری لنکا کے درمیان ٹیسٹ سریز اکتوبر میں شیڈول ہے#PAKvSL pic.twitter.com/A8q6d3FB5z— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) July 22, 2019
Return of International Cricket?
Pakistan last hosted a Test match on home soil in 2009. International cricket in the country was largely suspended after March that year when armed militants used bullets and grenades to attack the Sri Lanka team bus taking the players to the Gaddafi Stadium.
Pakistan has been starved of international cricket since the attack, however, some teams have toured to play limited-overs cricket and few matches of PSL have also taken place in the country. There are also talks about this year’s PSL being played fully in Pakistan.
A world XI side consisting of high profile players like Faf du Plessis and Hashim Amla also played a T20I series against Pakistan.
Read more: Lahore attack anniversary: Cricket returns to Pakistan
In October 2017, a Sri Lanka team did play a one-off T20I in Lahore, but without a number of prominent players in the squad.
According to the ESPNcricinfo report, the major concern for the SLC now is obtaining individual players’ consent to tour Pakistan.