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.
