LAHORE, Dec 24: Sri Lanka Cricket’s new management has asked from its foreign office to give security clearance to the national team for the next month’s tour of Pakistan.

“A contact between Pakistan High Commissioner in Sri Lanka and their Sports Minister Gamini Lokue was made over the forthcoming series between Pakistan and Sri Lanka on Wednesday.

“The minister has informed the High Commissioner that though the tour is on from their end, a formal security clearance is being sought from the foreign ministry after which they are ready to visit Pakistan,” Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ijaz Butt told Dawn on Wednesday.

The negotiation between the two cricket boards over the series — which is likely to start from Jan 19 — were in final stages when Sri Lankan Sports Minister Lokue dissolved the interim cricket committee on Tuesday which was run by former captain Arjuna Ranatunga.

That has sent shockwaves through the cricketing circles of the two countries and speculations abound that the tour — the first Test assignment of Pakistan in nearly 15 months — could be jeopardised because Ranatunga was most enthusiastic about the series and had himself offered the PCB to send his team in place of India which pulled out of a scheduled series in January-February 2009.

The PCB has sent the itinerary of the tour to Sri Lanka for final approval which includes three Tests and five One-day Internationals.

“I am quite hopeful for the tour as the Sri Lanka has responded swiftly and very positively to the PCB invitation,” Ijaz, who is also the president of Asian Cricket Council (ACC) said. “Though there is a change in the Sri Lanka Cricket administration, I do believe the tour commitment will be honoured by the new management,” he said.

Ijaz added the country was safe for cricket and the PCB had already started working to make strict arrangements with the collaboration of the Sindh and Punjab governments.

Ijaz will be presiding over the ACC annual committee meeting at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Dec 27. It will be his first annual meeting as president ACC. Ijaz also confirmed that though the SLC was passing through a change at home, it would send a representative to attend the meeting at Kuala Lumpur.