'Thank you Pakistan for great hospitality and excellent security' - Angelo Mathews appreciates the hosts after Test series

It was a comprehensive change in their stands in a gap of a few months. A number of Sri Lankan players had decided to not go to Pakistan to play the twin limited over series in September and October because of security concerns. However, the same visitors expressed their satisfaction after playing Pakistan in a two-match Test series this month.

Senior all-rounder Angelo Mathews on Tuesday conceded that Pakistan is a safe place to play cricket and thanked all the security arrangements that were put in place by the host country for their visit. Sri Lanka played three ODIs (one was abandoned because of rain) and as many T20Is in the first leg of their tour. They lost the ODIs 0-2 but beat Pakistan 3-0 with a depleted side in the T20Is.

In a tweet showing a picture of himself flanked by two commandos, the former Sri Lanka captain thanked the people of Pakistan for showing hospitality and the law-enforcement agencies for the safety arrangements.

Angelo Mathews made little impact in the Test series

“Thank you Pakistan for the great hospitality and excellent security. We were looked after so well and we felt safe as anywhere else in the world. Thanks to SSG and all the forces for ensuring our safety. Pakistan is safe for cricket,” the 32-year-old who chose not to go to Pakistan for the limited-over series but played the Test series, said.

Mathews though made little impact with the bat in the Test series, managing 63 runs in three innings with the highest score of 31 in Rawalpindi. It was a historic Test series as Pakistan hosted the long-format game after ages and the hosts won it 1-0 by the virtue of their 263-run victory in the second game in Karachi.

Pakistan players even visited the Sri Lankan dressing room to thank them for going to their country to play. A decade ago, it was the same country that had faced a horrific terror attack in Lahore and the players had to be airlifted from the middle of the ground to safety. No team went to play a Test series in Pakistan thereafter and it could only host a few teams for limited-over games only.

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