Well-placed sources told Arab News on Saturday that the Pakistani government has recently contacted senior officials in Sri Lanka to garner their support for the country’s national team’s tour to Pakistan.

Its an uphill task considering the fact that Sri Lanka, who were the last international cricket team to visit Pakistan, rushed back home in 2009 after they were ambushed by terrorists while going to the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Several Pakistanis, mostly policemen, were killed while a number of Sri Lankan players and officials were wounded in the attack.

“The government of Pakistan is now directly involved in ensuring that Sri Lanka’s team comes here to play in a full series,” said a source. “Negotiations are being held at the highest level which is a big positive development,” he added.

Pakistan and Sri Lanka enjoy friendly relations for a number of reasons including the fact that Pakistan provided valuable assistance to Sri Lanka in its efforts to crush a deadly Tamil rebellion.

The issue of securing Sri Lanka’s tour of Pakistan came under serious discussion during a meeting between Interior Minister Rehman Malik and Pakistan Cricket Board earlier this week.

On Malik’s instructions, the PCB has sent a letter to Sri Lankan Cricket requesting it to send its national team to Pakistan for the series, which include three Tests, five One-day Internationals and a Twenty20 International.

The Board has assured SLC that this time Sri Lankan cricketers will be given fool proof security.

“We have sent a letter to the Sri Lankans requesting them to play the series in Pakistan,” Nadeem Sarwar, the PCB spokesman, told Arab News.

“Its very important for Pakistan that international cricket returns here which is why the Board will make all out efforts to seal the series against Sri Lanka on home soil,” he added.

Though the Board is making efforts to have the series in Pakistan, is also keeping the option of having the matches against Sri Lanka played at alternate venues.

Till a few days back, the Board was seriously considering the idea of having the ‘home’ series held in Sri Lanka due to security-related issues. It also had the option of playing the series at neutral venues like Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Over the last two years, Pakistan have played all their ‘home’ matches on neutral venues in UAE, England and New Zealand.

Later this month, they will be hosting what is seen as a ground-breaking home series involving Pakistan A and the visiting Afghanistan team. The series spans over three one-day games, which will be played in Islamabad, Faisalabad and Rawalpindi.