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Today's Paper | December 22, 2024

Published 22 Dec, 2013 02:55am

'Sri Lanka can tour Pakistan if security guaranteed'

More than four years after an attack on their team in Lahore, Sri Lanka could well be the country that brings international cricket back to Pakistan.

The attack on the Sri Lanka team bus in 2009, which stripped Pakistan of its right to host international matches, left a permanent scar on some of the players but according to Sri Lanka Cricket’s media manager Rajith Fernando a tour could still be possible in the near future.

“Insurgency is not new to us as we have seen it in Sri Lanka for three decades. The 2009 incident was unfortunate, but Sri Lanka can tour Pakistan again if decent security arrangements are guaranteed,” Fernando told a Pakistani news channel.

“Sri Lanka highly values the support from Pakistan in tough times. We understand Pakistan’s agony and are ready to help in every possible way,” he added while hinting at the possibility of formal talks between the the PCB and SLC

The interim chairman of the PCB, Najam Sethi and the Secretary of SLC, Nishantha Ranatunga are in the UAE to witness the ongoing series between Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

The SLC official also touched upon the upcoming tour to Bangladesh and hoped it would go ahead as per schedule. “We have not decided to call the tour off as yet but the final decision will be taken after thorough deliberation. We hope situation will get better after the general elections in Bangladesh”, said Rajith Fernando

Bangladesh is scheduled to host Sri Lanka for two Tests, two Twenty20s and three ODIs during a series starting from January 27.

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