Spectators cheer prior to the start of the T20 cricket match in Lahore. —AFP

Celebrations all around as Sri Lanka return to play in Pakistan after 2009 attack

Lahore was adorned with pictures of Sri Lankan cricketers as fans converged on the stadium hours before the match.
AFP | AP Published October 30, 2017

Veteran all-rounder Shoaib Malik smashed a quick 52 as Pakistan outplayed Sri Lanka by 36 runs in the third and last T20 international on Sunday before a charged full house at Gaddafi stadium in Lahore.

Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Najam Sethi dubbed Sunday's match “historic”, saying it marked the return of international cricket to Pakistan.

Prior to the match, the countries' respective national anthems were played before a crowd of 23,000 cricket fans who applauded both the teams.

Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed thanked the Sri Lankan team and the crowd. “I thank the Sri Lankan team for coming to Pakistan as it was a great gesture,” said Ahmed. “It was lovely to play before the home crowd and win.” Sri Lankan skipper Thisara Perera said his players were honoured.

“We want to thank the Pakistani fans for inviting us,” said Perera. “We love you and it was an honour to lead this young side."

Spectators cheer during the T20 cricket match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka. —AFP
Spectators cheer during the T20 cricket match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka. —AFP

Women cheer as they arrive to watch the T20 cricket match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka. —AFP
Women cheer as they arrive to watch the T20 cricket match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka. —AFP

Spectators cheer prior to the start of the T20 cricket match. —AFP
Spectators cheer prior to the start of the T20 cricket match. —AFP

Pakistani and Sri Lankan cricketers and officials pose for a photograph before the start of the match. —AFP
Pakistani and Sri Lankan cricketers and officials pose for a photograph before the start of the match. —AFP

Spectators hold Sri Lanka's national flag during the T20 cricket match. —AFP
Spectators hold Sri Lanka's national flag during the T20 cricket match. —AFP

“I am very delighted that I played a fine knock and inspired the team to a decent total in our last T20 of the series against Sri Lanka,” said Shoaib Malik who was declared man of the match. —AFP
“I am very delighted that I played a fine knock and inspired the team to a decent total in our last T20 of the series against Sri Lanka,” said Shoaib Malik who was declared man of the match. —AFP

Players celebrate after winning the third and final T20 cricket match against Sri Lanka at Gaddafi Cricket Stadium in Lahore.—AFP
Players celebrate after winning the third and final T20 cricket match against Sri Lanka at Gaddafi Cricket Stadium in Lahore.—AFP

Pakistani players celebrate after winning the third T20 cricket match against Sri Lanka. —AFP
Pakistani players celebrate after winning the third T20 cricket match against Sri Lanka. —AFP

Pakistan's cricket team pose for photographs with the trophy after winning the third and final T20 cricket match against Sri Lanka. —AFP
Pakistan's cricket team pose for photographs with the trophy after winning the third and final T20 cricket match against Sri Lanka. —AFP

The Twenty20 against Sri Lanka took less than four hours to play but its significance will last far longer. —AFP
The Twenty20 against Sri Lanka took less than four hours to play but its significance will last far longer. —AFP

Comments (55) Closed
Hadi
Oct 30, 2017 12:37am
Two thumps up Sarfeaz, Sethi & co!
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saghir
Oct 30, 2017 12:46am
Ham Khush huay Pakistan team.
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charade
Oct 30, 2017 01:07am
In photos the best poster is 'Big 3 = Pakistan'. The reason for that made me laugh. Ingenious and funny thinking :)
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Tamjeed Arshad
Oct 30, 2017 01:08am
Welcome sight. Three cheers for cricket.
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anwar
Oct 30, 2017 01:12am
Lovely and charged faces. May these grounds always see the brighter side of picture.
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Concerned
Oct 30, 2017 01:35am
Credit goes to pmln govt they made it happen.
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Goga NALAIK
Oct 30, 2017 01:47am
Good Show Pakistan
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Fiz
Oct 30, 2017 02:08am
Super happy. Cricket brought smiles on every face. Thank you SL for playing a BIG part in it.
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Maan
Oct 30, 2017 02:10am
Smiles all around.. We love cricket.
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TR
Oct 30, 2017 02:19am
Congratulations.
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Pinto
Oct 30, 2017 02:23am
I'm from Sri Lanka, it is good that Pak back cricket in home...Pak must have cricket in thier country, UAE is boring, not coming fans...Here I see pretty girls, ladies, men and children come as a unit, play drum and enoy the match with full of enthusiam...This is meant Pak fans passion and its cricket, they deserve this, we like to see good pics like this in future cricket match.....!! Plz bring more international matches to Pak..Greetings to Pak sisters and brothers from Colombo..
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Let Us See It!
Oct 30, 2017 02:39am
This land belongs to you PEOPLE- FULL OF LIFE BUT LEADERLESS. So what - every one of you is a leader, start believing it, start today, there is no tomorrow!
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Flavian rego
Oct 30, 2017 02:49am
Great game Sri Lanka!!! Thank you for coming to my city. You played to win but wishing you better luck the next time. With China, you are our real friend in need and deed.During the East Pakistan crisis, when Pakistan was isolated your generosity was overwhelming. We shall not forget. Regards to your team and families. Flavian.
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Affi
Oct 30, 2017 02:55am
Well done Pakistan, this win is for Pakistan and Cricket in Pakistan. Big thanks to Sir Lankan team for playing in Pakistan.
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Starr
Oct 30, 2017 02:58am
Congratulations Pakistan from USA.
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Kahn
Oct 30, 2017 03:34am
The guy with BiG 3 poster nailed it... genius!! Told everything without going abusive
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Hope.
Oct 30, 2017 03:51am
Hamesha Khosh raho Pakistan. Ameen.
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Ajaya K Dutt
Oct 30, 2017 04:04am
Congratulations, Pakistan.
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Imran
Oct 30, 2017 04:41am
congratulations Pakistan...
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Agnostic
Oct 30, 2017 05:51am
Nice pictures! Good to see Pakistanis enjoy cricket on their soil.
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Amer Rao
Oct 30, 2017 07:23am
Congratulations Pakistan!
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Khadim Hussain Rizvi
Oct 30, 2017 07:31am
Good to see so enthusiastic girls in the green cheering for Pakistan.
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Minou Hussain
Oct 30, 2017 07:54am
I am very proud of Pakistan Cricket Team & people of Lahore & we are are very proud of Sri Lankan Team of there courage to come play in Lahore,beside the negative publicity,they chose Friendship vis Fear . You brought Joy to great city of Lahore & hope to see you come again to play all the game in Pakistan.
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N.Sid
Oct 30, 2017 08:04am
Sri Lanka has won it...the hearts and minds of the people of Pakistan.
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Khubaib Arshad
Oct 30, 2017 09:28am
Well Done. Credit goes to PCB, Govt, All Security Enforcement departments
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Syed Irfan ali
Oct 30, 2017 09:48am
Saw the best pictures to start my day. Long live Pakistan.
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Shahid
Oct 30, 2017 10:19am
@Pinto I salute your people! Thank you
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Khurram Jadoon
Oct 30, 2017 10:45am
@Kahn Yup, excellent !
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Syed Shahzad Bukhari
Oct 30, 2017 10:50am
Simply marvelous heading to the right way of bringing sports in Pakistan.
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Be honest
Oct 30, 2017 11:24am
Pakistan is booming fast!!!
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KUNAL MAJUMDAR, GURGAON
Oct 30, 2017 11:45am
This must be Pakistan's Olympic moment.
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ERANGA RANDENIYA
Oct 30, 2017 11:55am
We are Sri Lankan. We have lose only a match. But always we are looking for love and unity. that's why we are in Pakistan. we would like to wish you all fans of Pakistan and Pakistan cricket.
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Dr. Kent B Huzen
Oct 30, 2017 01:29pm
The Twenty20 against Sri Lanka took less than four hours to play but its significance will last far longer. Well done Pakistan and congrats to Sri Lanka.
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t. mahmood
Oct 30, 2017 02:10pm
Sometimes simple thing like sport can do wonder where complex diplomacy and politics fail. Cricket may do this for Pakistan.
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kash
Oct 30, 2017 02:41pm
whatever ppl have thought and said about Najam Sehti, he must deserve credit for working tirelessly to get cricket back in Pakistan.
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Ilias from NL
Oct 30, 2017 02:49pm
Beautiful !
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shehzaib javaid pasha
Oct 30, 2017 06:10pm
Love to see Pakistan in its colors. ................
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DIPAK SINGHAM
Oct 30, 2017 06:20pm
People of Pakistan thinks if any team play in Pakistan with life fear & uncertainty than that will be their true friend & who don't come to Pakistan they are not friend even those country count in enemy nation. BTW good to see die heart Pakistani cricket fans & cherish moments.
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baba bandook
Oct 30, 2017 07:39pm
Great pics, happy to see smile back on the faces of cricket lovers and Pakistanis.
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Adeeb
Oct 30, 2017 07:50pm
The credit goes to the Brave people of Sri Lanka who let their team come to Pakistan. Salute to Sri Lanka
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Rahul
Oct 30, 2017 07:51pm
Sri Lanka team with some players missing!
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Pakistani71
Oct 30, 2017 09:13pm
Congrats to Pakistani team on winning the series and a BIG Thanks to SL team for visiting Pakistan and once again supporting Pakistani public and PCB in bringing cricket back to Pakistan. Indeed they are true friend!... Pakistan Zindabaad!!!
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Ok it is again
Oct 30, 2017 11:21pm
@Pinto Thank you so much. :Pak owes SL for this.
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Nasser
Oct 31, 2017 01:06am
Big thank you to Sri Lanka! We need matches all over Pakistan, if we want to stay united as one country. Throw out corruption, nepotism, and baradari system!
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Waqar (UK)
Oct 31, 2017 01:16am
Didn't know that UK's boxer Amir Khan was now in the Pak team! 2nd last pic.
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arfan aslam
Oct 31, 2017 02:11am
What an amazing photos and lovely people and players to with a smile ALL around.what a brave s l team is.
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kareez
Oct 31, 2017 03:32am
congrats on well deserved win !! b/w good to see some beautiful faces esp in the last pic.
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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad
Oct 31, 2017 04:04pm
Welcome to the green-shirts club.
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ZAKIR
Oct 31, 2017 04:38pm
@Pinto Thank You very much. Proud to be friends of SL.
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Bhushan Parimoo
Oct 31, 2017 07:08pm
Game should win
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Bhushan Parimoo
Oct 31, 2017 07:10pm
Game should win that should be the spirit
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Naxalite
Oct 31, 2017 09:35pm
Great pictures, Great Event. Welcome back cricket to Pak
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Dani
Nov 01, 2017 02:46am
Pak win the series srilanka wins the hearts
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Afzal
Nov 01, 2017 02:08pm
@Hadi Thumbs up.. but one can thump the chest like Tarzan!
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Sanaullah
Nov 01, 2017 05:14pm
this is amaizing effort, pcb should keep it up,pakistan zindabad
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