Sri Lanka to send security delegation to decide on Test series in Pakistan
After Pakistan’s invitation to play in their country, Sri Lanka have decided to send a security team to the country before agreeing to it. The scheduled series will be the first Test series for both sides in the Test Championship with the result of each Test netting points towards the standings.
Ever since the dastardly attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in 2009 in Lahore, Pakistan haven’t hosted any Test match in the country, with UAE being their venue for the “home” games. Although they have hosted a few T20I matches, the lack of Test matches meant the country had to sacrifice the comforts of home. However, hope arises for the team as Sri Lanka agreed to send a security delegation to Pakistan, as reported by ESPNCricinfo.
Earlier, during the ICC annual conference in London, PCB extended a verbal offer to the Island nation but the formal invitation was only extended last week. The series is initially slated to be played in October in the UAE, but all now depends on the reports of the Sri Lankan security delegation which will verify the arrangements in Lahore and Karachi.
It was Sri Lanka who played the last Test match in Pakistan but on their way to the venue during the second Test, several gunmen ambushed the Sri Lankan team bus in a deadly terrorist strike. Eight people were killed and a few Sri Lanka players were injured. That incident completely isolated Pakistan as a cricketing destination, and there was no international cricket held in the country for six years until Zimbabwe visited the country for a three-match series.