Sri Lanka national cricket squad left for Pakistan on Tuesday expressing confidence in security promises by the hosts.
The Sri Lankan cricket team were attacked in Lahore in 2009. Since then most international teams have refused to tour the Pakistan, leaving Pakistan to play nearly all their “home” games in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Ten senior players due to security concerns have opted out of the tour comprising three one-day internationals and three Twenty20i.
But the captain of the Twenty20 squad, Dasun Shanaka, said he had no misgivings about returning to Pakistan after they played a Twenty20i international in Lahore in October 2017.
“I have been there before,” Shanaka told journalist just before the team left Colombo where they were blessed by saffron-robed Buddhist monks.
“I am satisfied with the security arranged for us and I am happy to lead my team to Pakistan. We hope to give a good fight to our very strong hosts.”
ODI skipper Lahiru Thirimanne said he also had no security concerns and they had been given assurances of a very high degree of protection in Pakistan, usually reserved for visits by heads of state.
Sri Lankan cricket board received the all-clear from the ministry of defense to go ahead with the tour after establishing that there was no threat.
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