Sri Lanka hint at touring Pakistan for a Test series this year

It was the national cricketers of Sri Lanka who were caught up in a deadly terror attack on the tour of Pakistan in 2009. They had a close shave in Lahore and the situation was so bad that the cricketers were airlifted from the middle of the ground. Pakistan thereafter remained isolated in world cricket as hosts and very few international teams have agreed to visit them in over a decade now. However, things have looked to improve in the recent months as individual cricketers have started visiting the country because of tournaments like the Pakistan Super League.

Now, international cricket schedules could head back to the country as Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has hinted at touring Pakistan for a two-match Test series later this year following a request from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). The series, which was scheduled to be held in the United Arab Emirates which has served as Pakistan’s home ground after they stopped hosting international games. These matches will be a part of the ICC World Test Championship that starts next month and continue till 2021.

SLC looking at proposal favourably

Recently, Pakistan cricket authorities also announced that in 2020 edition of the PSL will be entirely held in the country. According to Sri Lanka’s ‘The Island’ newspaper, its cricket board president Shammi Silva said that the board is looking at the proposal with favourable eyes.

Silva is currently in the UK to be present at his team’s all-important fixture against England at Headingley on Friday. “PCB has made a request and we will assess the security situation. We are looking at the possibility favourably,” Silva was quoted as saying by The Island.

The PCB had sent its Under-19 team to Sri Lanka soon after the Easter Sunday terror attacks in April that left more than 250 dead. Now, it has to be seen whether the SLC can convince its players to tour Pakistan as a sign of reciprocation. In 2017, Sri Lanka went to Lahore to play a one-off T20I but several senior players refused to be a part of it.

Also read- World Cup 2019: Mohammad Hafeez denies news of reported groupism in Pakistan team

Coming to the World Cup, Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat first in the match against England but were in big trouble at 3 for 2 before Avishka Fernando and Kusal Mendis repaired things. They ended the innings at 232/9 and isn’t expected to be a huge challenge for the hosts.