Sri Lanka to return to Pakistan for first time since 2009 Lahore attack
Sunday 10 September 2017 11:05, UK
Sri Lanka will return to Lahore for a Twenty20 international at the end of October, eight years after gunmen attacked a bus carrying its players in the Pakistan city.
Apart from a short visit by Zimbabwe in 2015, Pakistan has been starved of international cricket since the 2009 attack in which six security staff and two civilians were killed and six of Sri Lanka's players were wounded.
Subject to security clearance, Sri Lanka will play Pakistan at Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium on October 29 in the final fixture of a three-match T20 series.
The first two will be played in Pakistan's adopted United Arab Emirates 'home' after a two-Test series and five one-day internationals.
The International Cricket Council has also given its backing to a World XI, led by South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis, playing a three-match T20 series in Lahore next week in a bid to help revive international cricket in the country.
Du Plessis' squad, which includes former England batsman Paul Collingwood and will be coached by ex-England coach Andy Flower, will play on Tuesday (12th), Wednesday (13th) and Friday (15th).
"I can assure all Pakistan cricket fans that we have missed playing in front of them," said home skipper Sarfraz Ahmed. "I am confident that through this tour more cricket will come our way.
Flower added: "Everybody involved in the series will realise there are bigger issues at stake than winning at cricket.
"However, I think when these excellent players get together as a team, their competitive juices will undoubtedly flow and they will come together and be doing everything in their power to win those games."
Pakistan v Sri Lanka schedule
Tests
First Test, Abu Dhabi - Sep 28-Oct 2
Second Test, Dubai (day-nighter) - Oct 6-10
ODIs
First ODI, Dubai - Oct 13
Second ODI, Abu Dhabi - Oct 16
Third ODI, Abu Dhabi - Oct 18
Fourth ODI, Sharjah - Oct 20
Fifth ODI, Sharjah - Oct 23
T20I
First T20I, Abu Dhabi - Oct 26
Second T20I, Abu Dhabi - Oct 27
Third T20I, Lahore - Oct 29
