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Sri Lanka agree to play 2-match Test series in Pakistan starting 11th December

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Pakistan to play Sri Lanka Tests in front of home crowds

Lahore, 14 November 2019:

After more than 10 years, Test cricket will return to Pakistan in December when Sri Lanka will play their World Test Championship matches in Rawalpindi and Karachi.

The first Test will be played at the Pindi Cricket Stadium from 11-15 December, while the second Test will be held at the National Stadium from 19-23 December.

Originally, Sri Lanka were scheduled to play Tests in October and then return in December for white-ball cricket, but the matches were swapped to provide them the opportunity to assess the situation before deciding on the Test venues.

The Test series schedule was confirmed today after Cricket Sri Lanka gave their thumbs-up to fulfill their Future Tours Programme commitment following a highly successful visit for white-ball cricket. The tour not only delivered security from the top draw, but packed houses sent out a loud and clear message about the security situation in the country as well as passion for the game.

PCB Director – International Cricket, Zakir Khan, said: “This is fabulous news for Pakistan and its reputation of being as safe and secure as any other country in the world. We are thankful to Sri Lanka Cricket for agreeing to send their team for the longer version of the game, which will contribute significantly in the PCB’s efforts and drive for regular resumption of international cricket, and help in its endeavours of attracting new audiences and younger generation.

“Now that the itinerary has been confirmed, we will shift our focus on series preparations to ensure we deliver arrangements as per our very high standards. This series is part of our cricket celebrations and we will leave no stone unturned in putting up a show which is a memorable one for the players, officials, fans and media.”

SLC chief executive Ashley de Silva said: “We are pleased to confirm our return visit to Pakistan as, based on our earlier visit, we are comfortable and convinced conditions are suitable and conducive for Test cricket.

“We also believe all cricket playing countries should host international cricket at home and in this relation we are happy to play our part in complete resumption of international cricket in Pakistan, which not only has a proud history but has been one of our biggest supporters in our early days as a cricket nation.

“We drew our opening World Test Championship series against New Zealand, and I anticipate, like in the past, these two Tests will be exciting and competitive, and the fans will thoroughly enjoy the quality of cricket that will be on display.”

Tour schedule:

11-15 December – 1st Test, Pindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi
19-23 December – 2nd Test, National Stadium, Karachi
 
Okay. I hope the curators make the flatest pitches possible. The less spin the better against SL and how we play spin these days. Or just get drop-ins from UAE or England (jokes).
 
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Excellent news. PCB need to ensure we have good pitches for the games. Can’t afford to have QEA pitches. Won’t make for good test cricket.
 
It will be quite emotional and great moment for our test specialist azhar ali ,asad shafiq and yasir shah .These guys deserve to play atleast one test series in Pakistan which they are now getting
 
Next round pitches of QEA in pindi and Karachi should be prepared with different kind of surface and then should get feed back from local players .That will give pcb fair observation to see what should be ideal pitch
 
I know it’s impossible in current situation but I would love to see a live test match in Lahore... my grandpa used to work there before partition..oh well a couple of years for oz passport and will think about it then
 
I know it’s impossible in current situation but I would love to see a live test match in Lahore... my grandpa used to work there before partition..oh well a couple of years for oz passport and will think about it then

unfortunately due to smog .they have to shift test match from lahore to pindi
 
Karachi again! why not some other venue!

I doubt many will attend the test match, they rarely do.

Faisalabad would have been a better choice.
 
Huge news. Will definitely go to watch the match in pindi on either saturday or sunday.
 
Rawalpinidi is a very good choice. smaller venues where crowds will actually turn up is the key.
 
Yay, finally. Should prepare a flat pitch with a bit of grass. Unleash Naseem Shah onto the Sri Lankans Waqar Younis style.
 
Great opportunity for PAK to set the record straight. Pakistan haven't beaten Lanka in a home series since 1992.
 
I know it’s impossible in current situation but I would love to see a live test match in Lahore... my grandpa used to work there before partition..oh well a couple of years for oz passport and will think about it then

Very low chance you'll get a visa to Pakistan even on an Australian passport if you're of Indian origin
 
The Sri Lanka series will be basically straight after the Aus series. A good amount of test cricket coming up, the elite format of the game.
 
I hope Mathews, Kusal Mendis and Dickwella dont have much problem now after already putting their names forward for PSL draft.
 
I hope Mathews, Kusal Mendis and Dickwella dont have much problem now after already putting their names forward for PSL draft.

That would be next level shameless. It's already pretty embarassing that they declined to tour last month but now that they are being payed a little more they are willing to come.
 
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It really is a shame that in all these years since cricket has been so huge in Pakistan, nobody ever planned to make a state of the art cricket stadium in the capital Islamabad over looking the beautiful mountains.

Rawalpindi has more chances of seeing a decent crowd than Karachi.
 
It really is a shame that in all these years since cricket has been so huge in Pakistan, nobody ever planned to make a state of the art cricket stadium in the capital Islamabad over looking the beautiful mountains.

Rawalpindi has more chances of seeing a decent crowd than Karachi.

It’ll come. The lack of cricket has a lot to do with no new stadiums and falling apart of existing ones. Several have been brought back to life recently. If cricket keeps coming and money keeps flowing they’ll build one. But without existing/future demand you tend to build structures which are unprofitable, difficult to maintain and barely ever completed (like in North Korea).
 
Brilliant news. Next job is to try and get the grounds packed. Cheaply priced tickets are a must!
 
It’ll come. The lack of cricket has a lot to do with no new stadiums and falling apart of existing ones. Several have been brought back to life recently. If cricket keeps coming and money keeps flowing they’ll build one. But without existing/future demand you tend to build structures which are unprofitable, difficult to maintain and barely ever completed (like in North Korea).

As mentioned I did not say since no cricket has been played in the country, but a general thing is that all these last 30-40 years no government even thought of developing one in the capital. Islamabad has some of the best hotels too where players can stay especially the main one being Serena.
 
Our franchises should pick the SL T20 players who beat us 3-0, not those who got beaten by Australia 3-0 :angelo

Rajapaksha and Gunthalika actually looked good on true wickets of Gaddafi Stadium. The way we played Hassaranga was a shame as in Aus he went for 60 runs in total of 4 overs he bowled while Shadab finished 2nd T20 in Aus with figures of 4 overs for 25 which shows how poorly we played Hassaranga.
 
I remember plenty of people saying that when 10 Sri Lankan players dropped out of the ODI and T20 series, then that tour was pointless and it wouldn't change anyone's mind. And I of course said that logic is grossly over-simplistic and just not true. And here we are. PCB now pushed hard for a T20/ODI series from a SENA team. I think South Africa should be do-able.
 
No point in having the series if their top players will not be taking part in what is a test championship series. Should give some free tickets if needed to fill the grounds.
 
No point in having the series if their top players will not be taking part in what is a test championship series. Should give some free tickets if needed to fill the grounds.

I'm pretty sure all the players are coming. Some players who declined touring in October are also coming to the PSL.
 
Karachi?!!
Test cricket in karachi, no ones going to turn up.
Lahore and faislabad is were its at, even gujranwala, but not karachi!
Seriously, faislabad and gujranwala need to construct some 5* hotels and pcb should hold internationals there. My mirpuri friends tell me that they have a cricket ground in mirpur thats good enough for international matches, why not try there?
Anywhere but karachi!
 
Karachi?!!
Test cricket in karachi, no ones going to turn up.
Lahore and faislabad is were its at, even gujranwala, but not karachi!
Seriously, faislabad and gujranwala need to construct some 5* hotels and pcb should hold internationals there. My mirpuri friends tell me that they have a cricket ground in mirpur thats good enough for international matches, why not try there?
Anywhere but karachi!

Here is the thread, refer to the last post:
http://www.pakpassion.net/ppforum/s...ms-Can-PSL-return-to-Pakistan-fully-next-year
 
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Karachi?!!
Test cricket in karachi, no ones going to turn up.
Lahore and faislabad is were its at, even gujranwala, but not karachi!
Seriously, faislabad and gujranwala need to construct some 5* hotels and pcb should hold internationals there. My mirpuri friends tell me that they have a cricket ground in mirpur thats good enough for international matches, why not try there?
Anywhere but karachi!

Smog in Lahore is too much for cricket to be played.
 
Great news for PAK cricket. Though not sure why a Test at Pindi in mid December!!!! We might struggle to get 350 overs in 5 days. The Karachi one should be a good Test - NSK hosted few Tests in last decade and wickets were absolute beauty - one against India and two against Srilanka. Should be a good series and to add spice Arthur (& Rixon) might come with SRL to face the man instrumental in his exit from PCT (Rixon as well, but his tango was with PCB).
 
Sri lanka will be licking their lips at prospect of another test series win over pakistan in december.
 
Great news for PAK cricket. Though not sure why a Test at Pindi in mid December!!!! We might struggle to get 350 overs in 5 days. The Karachi one should be a good Test - NSK hosted few Tests in last decade and wickets were absolute beauty - one against India and two against Srilanka. Should be a good series and to add spice Arthur (& Rixon) might come with SRL to face the man instrumental in his exit from PCT (Rixon as well, but his tango was with PCB).

Pindi is not in Central Punjab and doesn’t really have smog issues. Maybe once or twice a year a little fog but nothing like Central Punjab places. Karachi, Pindi and Peshawar should be the host for Nov/dec and Lahore, Faisalabad and Multan for Post Jan matches
 
CC appoints match officials for Pakistan v Sri Lanka Test series

Lahore, 4 December 2019:

The International Cricket Council has confirmed umpire and match referee appointments for the ICC World Test Championship fixtures between Pakistan and Sri Lanka, to be played from 11-23 December.

Andy Pycroft will lead the Playing Control Team for the opening Test in Rawalpindi from 11-15 December, which will also include Michael Gough and Richard Kettleborough as the on-field umpires, Richard Illingworth as third umpire and Shozab Raza as the fourth umpire.

For the second Test in Karachi from 19-23 December, Jeff Crowe will be the match referee, while on-field umpiring responsibilities will be shared between Bruce Oxenford and Joel Wilson. Gregory Brathwaite will be in the third umpire’s box and Ahsan Raza will be the fourth umpire.

Michael Gough and Joel Wilson will make a return visit to Pakistan after performing on-field umpires’ duties when Sri Lanka had played white-ball matches by umpiring in the Karachi ODIs.

Match officials’ appointments:

11-15 December – 1st Test. Michael Gough and Richard Kettleborough (on-field), Richard Illingworth (third umpire), Shozab Raza (fourth umpire); Andy Pycroft (match referee)

19-23 December – 2nd Test. Bruce Oxenford and Joel Wilson (on-field), Gregory Brathwaite (third umpire), Ahsan Raza (fourth umpire); Jeff Crowe (match referee)
 
Okay. I hope the curators make the flatest pitches possible. The less spin the better against SL and how we play spin these days. Or just get drop-ins from UAE or England (jokes).

Which SL spinner is Pakistan scared off ? Herath is retied and Dananjey is banned lol.
 
Which SL spinner is Pakistan scared off ? Herath is retied and Dananjey is banned lol.

Dilruwan is a more than capable bowler if the wicket turns a bit.

And the new kid Embuldeniya looked good in South Africa. You never know. Pak batting has regressed against spin.
 
Dilruwan is a more than capable bowler if the wicket turns a bit.

And the new kid Embuldeniya looked good in South Africa. You never know. Pak batting has regressed against spin.

SL are still losing, every kid told to "watch" turns out to have less brian than the previous one. Sri lankan players are duds when it comes to using their brain. Lucky T20 wins may happen here and there but I don't see SL winning Test series in Pakistan.
 
SL are still losing, every kid told to "watch" turns out to have less brian than the previous one. Sri lankan players are duds when it comes to using their brain. Lucky T20 wins may happen here and there but I don't see SL winning Test series in Pakistan.

Mate which kids are u talking about.
Thirimanne
Matthews
Chandimal
Karunaratne
Mendis
lakmal

These are all more experienced then every Pak player excluding Asad Azhar and yasir
 
dilara destroyed us with is spin in uae and his batting too..we just cant play spin or it will be tuk tuk tuk...
 
SL are still losing, every kid told to "watch" turns out to have less brian than the previous one. Sri lankan players are duds when it comes to using their brain. Lucky T20 wins may happen here and there but I don't see SL winning Test series in Pakistan.
Never understand the delusion and arrogance of some Pakistani fans. SL won test series against South Africa in SA. They also beat Pakistan in. UAE but they can’t beat a declining Pakistan team in Pakistan. Great logic.
 
Never understand the delusion and arrogance of some Pakistani fans. SL won test series against South Africa in SA. They also beat Pakistan in. UAE but they can’t beat a declining Pakistan team in Pakistan. Great logic.

I'm Indian. Perhaps I cant remember the last time Sri lanka won against India in a Test match....or any match other than the 2017 CT trophy. Didn't SL win 1 match ? hardly considered a "Series victory".
 
Oh.. did not know about that.. well never say never I guess .. I will try for sure

What [MENTION=123787]angrypathan[/MENTION] says is not true. I personally know a dual national of Indian origin in USA who visits Pakistan for about a month for religious reasons without any hassle every year since he got US citizenship a few years ago.
 
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